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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102345

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
eb74910cd6eee4ef3d6acbccd4207e26203814c5fd82a5be1dddd8f4f1f43e4e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102345, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102345.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102345" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102345" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102345 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102345 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102345 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102345 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102345", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1029 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17667, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3ec7d2bc002b30d4efcf94a772e0926a17f1493f59e3e6276a1494a31ae1b1ff" }, { "bytes": 7472, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a4374ad3a5c0beb1dcbb79a3c6753589b0145ef535829536d8e33b1ba504e299" }, { "bytes": 7166, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "eb74910cd6eee4ef3d6acbccd4207e26203814c5fd82a5be1dddd8f4f1f43e4e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102345/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102345", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-707c-816d-ccb7df4750c1" } K5QeHQtMx/+zVjqqWP/b/hbcspbGnVzt0XWOU/IU1gKb4/spt/3+ZqnHbkBRhSDMeaeMgV+gUIUcnUjZEh1ZAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: K5QeHQtMx/+zVjqqWP/b/hbcspbGnVzt0XWOU/IU1gKb4/spt/3+ZqnHbkBRhSDMeaeMgV+gUIUcnUjZEh1ZAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17418,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a9fd75d2592256d0f64baf468b06c154ad0d5ea68731761385cd9ac7cd952185"},{"bytes":7266,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"133f072ee547206aa128c9e3721a0cbf2688d086b716e8e275f758404c1eb05d"},{"bytes":6960,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"69b2b881e8a3348658601375f3e3163b7172b75b5b3bad87462e8b2ff9b65853"},{"bytes":2772,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"93931d1f8561e1105b619d8113ff2b65e2baa77be9eba52c2ecf522daf80e5a0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"52c2857f557a180e662f6a16471c49be6ee5d6a319cae87dcf20ed8d134ceae3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1434ed7158947bc21c6ef7140f1110eea8641aaf4cd62bfd5f64b71f2473a0b2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102346"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102346
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102346

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
69b2b881e8a3348658601375f3e3163b7172b75b5b3bad87462e8b2ff9b65853

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102346, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102346.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102346" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102346" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102346 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102346 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102346 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102346 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102346", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 995 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17418, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a9fd75d2592256d0f64baf468b06c154ad0d5ea68731761385cd9ac7cd952185" }, { "bytes": 7266, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "133f072ee547206aa128c9e3721a0cbf2688d086b716e8e275f758404c1eb05d" }, { "bytes": 6960, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "69b2b881e8a3348658601375f3e3163b7172b75b5b3bad87462e8b2ff9b65853" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102346/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102346", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7fed-bf70-8633fbcfc967" } 1nHp1m5E3rAc5Dtc67vI5kJOhNF2scqEOFZAAOPgyF70FOnybsVr7FmRFEkGAboJpK9Ba2J+rsOLxibjwpjzDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 1nHp1m5E3rAc5Dtc67vI5kJOhNF2scqEOFZAAOPgyF70FOnybsVr7FmRFEkGAboJpK9Ba2J+rsOLxibjwpjzDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16964,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f4eb10d5a6633522cfa70edf5b04f47bc584e37cee0149aadd848c7940b0293d"},{"bytes":6869,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7809e9e0f50ca33466c5f5f4254f0e6c0c303f765d92cf438a9664cdafd9d4d7"},{"bytes":6561,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"715fc4a0381a095cdcf7b6b86f5d08bb246072592cd1ad746d78d3aaf5461ead"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9128042e398907c83c6b4d6cd22557294e93cdeee64fbfb18acfd2e2037ec25a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2079f286091b91cab43c24ed0bb2d9e0f7d3b6d325535435d2310fc7783d738c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7bc8f880609cf53711a100fcd72922252ae48eac3eb0d629bafac59318b5fcca"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102347"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102347
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102347

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
715fc4a0381a095cdcf7b6b86f5d08bb246072592cd1ad746d78d3aaf5461ead

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102347, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102347.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102347" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102347" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102347 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102347 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102347 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102347 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102347", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16964, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f4eb10d5a6633522cfa70edf5b04f47bc584e37cee0149aadd848c7940b0293d" }, { "bytes": 6869, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7809e9e0f50ca33466c5f5f4254f0e6c0c303f765d92cf438a9664cdafd9d4d7" }, { "bytes": 6561, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "715fc4a0381a095cdcf7b6b86f5d08bb246072592cd1ad746d78d3aaf5461ead" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102347/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102347", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-78f3-9c64-43852f850c56" } YbjXUneNQsD32f23xZsEZSnXaZ69JKhFgm6Gc3hEJu7ouVhvWLBssX6G8KgXy+addl4RaPRgTnKrmjJBbowqDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: YbjXUneNQsD32f23xZsEZSnXaZ69JKhFgm6Gc3hEJu7ouVhvWLBssX6G8KgXy+addl4RaPRgTnKrmjJBbowqDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17762,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b30d02531efaca12db75ffef5617c96e5fb66b2926b09432d3f2457a2516c536"},{"bytes":7557,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"647ccc1b98f4fa5095c72f141983878ce9023cab9b0190968c7d64f7c5080a89"},{"bytes":7246,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"12b21865205382592e35f472f2d078864b7a2ee389fe52204b861dd938cfdbee"},{"bytes":2778,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cd489018eb4cf5cca78a23a8bc039d6c96a8897604d8953fc1597bd7c81bf30b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1cd1686399d76435a32bd312275990ef15b41848a326c53abcd769bd859fcee0"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d0069e116d07063af185296796f362201e06019a9d9e0a43982380a09e666c31"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102348"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102348
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102348

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
12b21865205382592e35f472f2d078864b7a2ee389fe52204b861dd938cfdbee

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102348, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102348.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102348" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102348" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102348 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102348 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102348 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102348 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102348", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1041 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17762, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b30d02531efaca12db75ffef5617c96e5fb66b2926b09432d3f2457a2516c536" }, { "bytes": 7557, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "647ccc1b98f4fa5095c72f141983878ce9023cab9b0190968c7d64f7c5080a89" }, { "bytes": 7246, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "12b21865205382592e35f472f2d078864b7a2ee389fe52204b861dd938cfdbee" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102348/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102348", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7626-8a5c-2dadcbc3aba6" } vla4Mn2pePR/D2YT0Ak1ucB8gccE1jvoZYN7UwihgVvgey5C2uNEXvVqfhKrIyPV1z1oz02jc2FsOs/nrf21BA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: vla4Mn2pePR/D2YT0Ak1ucB8gccE1jvoZYN7UwihgVvgey5C2uNEXvVqfhKrIyPV1z1oz02jc2FsOs/nrf21BA== {"files":[{"bytes":17513,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e1730ed7dc342fb2bed1497be88c2f40b04d4e72dda5b143a52c31dad293743a"},{"bytes":7351,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"59fd64a7b27a8495d3f469605e407aadd0fd54fcfa4fc6644cb21b7e976b5d5b"},{"bytes":7040,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"eb02f6d193c0114fcf93d5981fb7e46251216c9cde1bdba394b66c957f2764a7"},{"bytes":2778,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cb157493871ccf3296fcc50eb2234cf1ea7aeb385afcb0c566bb3ec8a1c15e8f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2c265098682506559264da5231ddbde74eb695b37efd88eec07dcb4f8b6eb115"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"55d50290019cbbd494d765deea07cdfa0f952ba08209c3903d3fb3214a4aca48"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102349"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102349
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102349

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
eb02f6d193c0114fcf93d5981fb7e46251216c9cde1bdba394b66c957f2764a7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102349, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102349.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102349" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102349" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102349 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102349 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102349 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102349 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102349", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 1007 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17513, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e1730ed7dc342fb2bed1497be88c2f40b04d4e72dda5b143a52c31dad293743a" }, { "bytes": 7351, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "59fd64a7b27a8495d3f469605e407aadd0fd54fcfa4fc6644cb21b7e976b5d5b" }, { "bytes": 7040, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "eb02f6d193c0114fcf93d5981fb7e46251216c9cde1bdba394b66c957f2764a7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102349/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102349", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-79a1-8eac-cef24270af11" } rfED7bJBnm9si2tA3onaQsxkThzCOxvmkfpUEU+k1O8+nZoUJvn8By637p/4xzbZRX4nP05ovxy26NopT0KQCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: rfED7bJBnm9si2tA3onaQsxkThzCOxvmkfpUEU+k1O8+nZoUJvn8By637p/4xzbZRX4nP05ovxy26NopT0KQCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16965,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3e2ff9927c8615e24212a05037f485db814abc986363b07c32d60eb66f650b07"},{"bytes":6870,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"34d906b6537a046f5cb973336589e7362cff1fdb34ba12ab1ab18ab40a09a73c"},{"bytes":6562,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bf076bdfc36ab38458534e6a0271b36ae8ca52cfef24e2fff80df12de4f7cec0"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9ee4a4eccf9a5c61720afb0c98e7c78c18e844487d78b165d370d95f7e84783a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8f590ee5ef5879a7cb7512de0c3ff597846f539a313b54f982c5b20bb3db6d05"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a59869de4611d94271ea5de732ca130508e09a4c6850782ea1e28ebb50f1614c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102350"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102350
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102350

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
bf076bdfc36ab38458534e6a0271b36ae8ca52cfef24e2fff80df12de4f7cec0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102350, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102350.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102350" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102350" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102350 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102350 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102350 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102350 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102351

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7e6e5fe9387bda6f8ada2c7b134d1f60a1198e232e6adf9a854468ffdae6b08b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102351, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102351.

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Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102351" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102351" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102351 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102351 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102351 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102351 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102351", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1041 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17763, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "58a5aa93a6dc878d4242f0b9c4ed214464e6288ed604319492fb2b6584789843" }, { "bytes": 7558, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4fb1ec1eef0be2b55a7af1e69d1e080f3eb6641fba0db0c69c1a8ee4548ce0d6" }, { "bytes": 7247, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7e6e5fe9387bda6f8ada2c7b134d1f60a1198e232e6adf9a854468ffdae6b08b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102351/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102351", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-793f-9695-ae457142760e" } fIV8WQbWX2ZN3j7vXNgdvQnuxlGWx/MXTC7yYYiNA68Z4sD2o9zUG/WSNfL+RSEHVTDoBOqchFG8vqqgIV74Dw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: fIV8WQbWX2ZN3j7vXNgdvQnuxlGWx/MXTC7yYYiNA68Z4sD2o9zUG/WSNfL+RSEHVTDoBOqchFG8vqqgIV74Dw== {"files":[{"bytes":17514,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f5a91cbd858bbdf7d728ba08e7bc0df6e819a90b2e88b166a2f5fab20e5cc9a3"},{"bytes":7352,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9d9a5c027ea21f1f98f5398804c233f0fdb707fe4f99d5cc8bb6e9ac983448c3"},{"bytes":7041,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"22fabe279d31f47f4875008ca7aa846cde3f92f2af3f1f69ffd0b30b973372aa"},{"bytes":2778,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3c407e0f8547167091f3fd9483e671ddc20b14fe644f338df6221444716afa1b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"25914d6bf50119628a6c74256c18a752c99e357a515e4cd55b3c729dfafa137d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6e66712990c8812290e41a199242de22cc47d27aafc85fa1d80e7fd8cbe4abba"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102352"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102352
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102352

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
22fabe279d31f47f4875008ca7aa846cde3f92f2af3f1f69ffd0b30b973372aa

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102352, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102352.

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Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102352" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102352" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102352 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102352 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102352 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102352 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102352", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 1007 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17514, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f5a91cbd858bbdf7d728ba08e7bc0df6e819a90b2e88b166a2f5fab20e5cc9a3" }, { "bytes": 7352, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9d9a5c027ea21f1f98f5398804c233f0fdb707fe4f99d5cc8bb6e9ac983448c3" }, { "bytes": 7041, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "22fabe279d31f47f4875008ca7aa846cde3f92f2af3f1f69ffd0b30b973372aa" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102352/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102352", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-77bb-bc39-f3c83a11fbdf" } m/sZDD+9t5E9e+/I5uQ1vVeKl0shGVUbg1duEa7agkP6emqK5UoIEpEFz43i43AoAcxTH2V1FBp7aRlcnQf+DQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: m/sZDD+9t5E9e+/I5uQ1vVeKl0shGVUbg1duEa7agkP6emqK5UoIEpEFz43i43AoAcxTH2V1FBp7aRlcnQf+DQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16969,"name":"index.html","sha256":"113275dc49ac4467f77c5a6f6a4d1220402975078d3834db0e682a064ed2a599"},{"bytes":6874,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b6875a7c42b2165a42eb7bc6fd278f023dc4af8eb2fe4bd0d44dfea93f3c614d"},{"bytes":6566,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f3f827ee3dad4936876007444f43ece855f2245eb7bb3dc0f9d08e06f1a192a0"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b66cc5b0ebe5b7ff2ec28ea0e739ea5c1139be140d44935d37f00931253aa28f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2409b7d887e2febd07148ae7439f3607aef2184419281abd0f1d1fdbcea10727"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7dd08071936e8516f40c2bf1d601b0233a087a0cd62e7211af4dba57743d9be6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102353"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102353
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102353

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
f3f827ee3dad4936876007444f43ece855f2245eb7bb3dc0f9d08e06f1a192a0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102353, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102353.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102353" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102353" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102353 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102353 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102353 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102353 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102353", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16969, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "113275dc49ac4467f77c5a6f6a4d1220402975078d3834db0e682a064ed2a599" }, { "bytes": 6874, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b6875a7c42b2165a42eb7bc6fd278f023dc4af8eb2fe4bd0d44dfea93f3c614d" }, { "bytes": 6566, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f3f827ee3dad4936876007444f43ece855f2245eb7bb3dc0f9d08e06f1a192a0" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102353/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102353", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7b6e-8ec4-13c7b73dee90" } D4tT6yjNyGQcrwW980eTCixkcUZ0ewazIl/e0/kBThR84xuU0RUYdOSL4W5DLHR94YUkFdIRfH813X7DUgrfDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: D4tT6yjNyGQcrwW980eTCixkcUZ0ewazIl/e0/kBThR84xuU0RUYdOSL4W5DLHR94YUkFdIRfH813X7DUgrfDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17767,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7224e6ba921572cbcc6830ae898576c78ffa7150e78d8f96e72d167b54eeba1c"},{"bytes":7562,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"abca0bc4aef3cdb41a017ee60154ad07c1e839fc5431f1b51a0fe1ed31fb730a"},{"bytes":7251,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3fdd1759be9bfa194d01caf8c428f7dd2c6f6a7f6b16529077cf307bf7109345"},{"bytes":2778,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"10990c9d2df4a5637abe84709fb369aca419b90b5bf350517fbd7a2363a627cc"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"904b76d019e48f59c02d7dc9c247f238859e7567db02e2ce2ba41a2d023ab615"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d533472173faffd96c5acf4b110a3ccbbfb5721d072f9cebf834ed8efe519334"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102354"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102354
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102354

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3fdd1759be9bfa194d01caf8c428f7dd2c6f6a7f6b16529077cf307bf7109345

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102354, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102354.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102354" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102354" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102354 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102354 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102354 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102354 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102354", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1041 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17767, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7224e6ba921572cbcc6830ae898576c78ffa7150e78d8f96e72d167b54eeba1c" }, { "bytes": 7562, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "abca0bc4aef3cdb41a017ee60154ad07c1e839fc5431f1b51a0fe1ed31fb730a" }, { "bytes": 7251, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3fdd1759be9bfa194d01caf8c428f7dd2c6f6a7f6b16529077cf307bf7109345" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102354/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102354", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7563-a9df-c77efe992e4f" } GC7DYvWlvuyOrQxlG5AttQcLjl+HpDggsiidbmM9ym8H8OUdD0qj2nXLg2BXj/8VYrq7x77hYJJKN0y1x/2eAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: GC7DYvWlvuyOrQxlG5AttQcLjl+HpDggsiidbmM9ym8H8OUdD0qj2nXLg2BXj/8VYrq7x77hYJJKN0y1x/2eAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17518,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cc36997ae8e893b178032098c0a0095bc22b4f52b2d7c716d9d03a4e54cf1c96"},{"bytes":7356,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"24248f5a56d43fbb84d5f40ee7e4c26895f0cfa9bf759c64d951b8b53ab619a7"},{"bytes":7045,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e5b7dbc09229c101b893e34a5d48b06468fbe83c68337f8fa6da18c3fe1d752e"},{"bytes":2778,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"96ca5adea4eda0560d8a7364fbb7c99183b2627421662891f1844ecc0f4d6b75"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2ef6f6aa67d9420084e28d9776b9f7c9db10f3ceaeda896dbdb01b101109e20d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ef9788f16d9e53bee27b8748bb9c4d97262cbcac2874dc0cc9765dc2375ce077"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102355"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102355
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102355

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e5b7dbc09229c101b893e34a5d48b06468fbe83c68337f8fa6da18c3fe1d752e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102355, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102355.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102355" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102355" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102355 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102355 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102355 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102355 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102355", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 1007 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17518, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cc36997ae8e893b178032098c0a0095bc22b4f52b2d7c716d9d03a4e54cf1c96" }, { "bytes": 7356, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "24248f5a56d43fbb84d5f40ee7e4c26895f0cfa9bf759c64d951b8b53ab619a7" }, { "bytes": 7045, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e5b7dbc09229c101b893e34a5d48b06468fbe83c68337f8fa6da18c3fe1d752e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102355/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102355", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7236-b25b-eb5ec72a13e6" } YsLeTpV3l+tfG5kc7iB3dXx33QTFvjfzVA2b7OWTHpbxu4eVZX6JJVXj9n0PMyWfrxt7eQuK4m4N/e6FZqwJAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: YsLeTpV3l+tfG5kc7iB3dXx33QTFvjfzVA2b7OWTHpbxu4eVZX6JJVXj9n0PMyWfrxt7eQuK4m4N/e6FZqwJAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17817,"name":"index.html","sha256":"90c8a1763bc408c008e0c102d1611a021a335bfb600cc789639aa3120450a948"},{"bytes":7604,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a440cb4fe3cf23e48b7799a7b79ccf7ea099ec30ec6dcb1e5df3daac5cb532ba"},{"bytes":7309,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ea96282c0b217eb09c3e88f29ff2cef2339bc9f9f6512aabcf204beaa70bba4c"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cb54d3370d8198e42d055486cbdf4d71f6738f4b2229f2afdadaf8bf58e3737e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b90b4341faf6bdc78abd026cf30869e0ca8c103d183d5cd062795301fdaf0642"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1656cf15238293dfee32d93ef825deee25400f59dcc760c7cc17b1b897cf56c0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102356"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102356
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102356

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ea96282c0b217eb09c3e88f29ff2cef2339bc9f9f6512aabcf204beaa70bba4c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102356, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102356.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102356" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102356" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102356 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102356 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102356 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102356 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102356", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1063 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17817, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "90c8a1763bc408c008e0c102d1611a021a335bfb600cc789639aa3120450a948" }, { "bytes": 7604, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a440cb4fe3cf23e48b7799a7b79ccf7ea099ec30ec6dcb1e5df3daac5cb532ba" }, { "bytes": 7309, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ea96282c0b217eb09c3e88f29ff2cef2339bc9f9f6512aabcf204beaa70bba4c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102356/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102356", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7d53-b878-31508090f76a" } JJOxFaLesToy9RGNqlG1cpNGMws3CwhpVzTUaAP2D/W/XPpAHkmAsajShLhIxD8fWVhDldagT12/SNKEri+BAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: JJOxFaLesToy9RGNqlG1cpNGMws3CwhpVzTUaAP2D/W/XPpAHkmAsajShLhIxD8fWVhDldagT12/SNKEri+BAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17568,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e3f66fb2355372b531dfbed2094822e5c8fa8d565451ad2422392c4ce6abd373"},{"bytes":7398,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"19e47a1eb50fae218555a9ebc1f49c277bc0295d229e20c6eb9a0a43eaadc65a"},{"bytes":7103,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"768c234e1176a328fe0d55e198aef323a9c646cea1afde65ab1c75b3ac7421cf"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a75fc5fe7de0c9e623009f888db5a6aa08ce4398e7ac8cbf050ee409301a1f91"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0838ace0827f8a588c573b44c615a72e3ba3efa6c21486e32734aeb399431770"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0b3251a5aeb424a8e81cbc5eb4cfc936f1455183b085ad12784de6d4176f3aab"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102357"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102357
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102357

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
768c234e1176a328fe0d55e198aef323a9c646cea1afde65ab1c75b3ac7421cf

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102357, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102357.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102357" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102357" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102357 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102357 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102357 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102357 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102357", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1029 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17568, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e3f66fb2355372b531dfbed2094822e5c8fa8d565451ad2422392c4ce6abd373" }, { "bytes": 7398, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "19e47a1eb50fae218555a9ebc1f49c277bc0295d229e20c6eb9a0a43eaadc65a" }, { "bytes": 7103, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "768c234e1176a328fe0d55e198aef323a9c646cea1afde65ab1c75b3ac7421cf" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102357/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102357", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-74be-af92-ca8aba8a36b6" } 7oAzNaZLVqyI8gpq9MOH+2UYuDnpgoapI+x3MsqzWgioO8n8zRD6oBhK/mGrUeomzKzZsOUzzJ1ye2/h8w32Ag== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 7oAzNaZLVqyI8gpq9MOH+2UYuDnpgoapI+x3MsqzWgioO8n8zRD6oBhK/mGrUeomzKzZsOUzzJ1ye2/h8w32Ag== {"files":[{"bytes":16965,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5f1c415f4eba7f60f603ae83655acc9b16d9438f5d39f1c4c15670a826ab079a"},{"bytes":6862,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a1320bb1f366d6c26161a781bdb0425887b792b55578eb3ddfecc52c2dfa0b54"},{"bytes":6570,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"85ea1ec8d4d45cde7fcfd7b46381726da120fc1c3ea76ec52ec27bfd11320372"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4dde2c9e3ed8bcb4f95252cee0811bb9c2b7f20ad919d0edf736e4a6bc4dbffe"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7a66be25ba09fd9db37544f1794a995cebb04cba3d7aeb51bce981bfd1ff9fbd"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ee41d8fa81f13af095c020aa4e27ea4cc6312ce2e49dc028d7b42313ca14d4e3"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102358"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102358
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102358

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
85ea1ec8d4d45cde7fcfd7b46381726da120fc1c3ea76ec52ec27bfd11320372

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102358, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102358.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102358" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102358" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102358 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102358 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102358 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102358 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102359

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ac6f5862702e94414fc011103654e79d4b019678ba8326dbc13e724605968e4c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102359, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102359.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102359" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102359" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102359 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102359 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102359 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102359 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102359", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1048 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17763, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7317d779e36fb26ad9bd89118636bb26e7018bd897a3ae3dfe4fe4b1c38fb977" }, { "bytes": 7550, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a898a43806a3ec0bbc19eb6374719c85a4b324a8bd7d3942a19e9a1caf307af4" }, { "bytes": 7255, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ac6f5862702e94414fc011103654e79d4b019678ba8326dbc13e724605968e4c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102359/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102359", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-763b-b024-b4791bc4d5c4" } NLHIw9u/LvK8IQQB0zB7AW+QWwJN9lmKo9PUAyq9oY/PP9hHG0WYr2bTrXuhF6ofIGjVJ4WcYSGgSMh2e1WtCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: NLHIw9u/LvK8IQQB0zB7AW+QWwJN9lmKo9PUAyq9oY/PP9hHG0WYr2bTrXuhF6ofIGjVJ4WcYSGgSMh2e1WtCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17514,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1bc25b40399c47743f656287274af1b359b5f825155af68ac731384c9f43a830"},{"bytes":7344,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e1e73776339e2bc063d245d37280d5c55e6ff1585bca9a55496c651cec63ba5a"},{"bytes":7049,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9ddfff61d3bd9b2b7ee45372546c1980e27adeb3f8234d61b99b57cfc3c7f7e5"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"29fa5316f8ee9454873e9a850c4625dc81d179959de121f6994df223a712a352"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"54b441cf70154d20406e29ad2fb6ba7df260bbfeda3bae4d6b0378eee754e275"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"61e6ab6bed400168a62411568e203e127a00cf068d95200581a3b50dc5220f1c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102360"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102360
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102360

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9ddfff61d3bd9b2b7ee45372546c1980e27adeb3f8234d61b99b57cfc3c7f7e5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102360, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102360.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102360" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102360" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102360 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102360 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102360 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102360 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102360", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1014 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17514, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1bc25b40399c47743f656287274af1b359b5f825155af68ac731384c9f43a830" }, { "bytes": 7344, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e1e73776339e2bc063d245d37280d5c55e6ff1585bca9a55496c651cec63ba5a" }, { "bytes": 7049, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9ddfff61d3bd9b2b7ee45372546c1980e27adeb3f8234d61b99b57cfc3c7f7e5" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102360/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102360", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7623-9efb-f297ea6b7b5e" } qx4YZDo+30QyCUFNT3l70Q84yGXhD/umQt1XyfuY+7gmzSi8t4Zj5lGLbCCrqR6CZAfRVD+66uTfWagach3bBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: qx4YZDo+30QyCUFNT3l70Q84yGXhD/umQt1XyfuY+7gmzSi8t4Zj5lGLbCCrqR6CZAfRVD+66uTfWagach3bBg== {"files":[{"bytes":16732,"name":"index.html","sha256":"93066b001f6e6237aa9766ff917c9637b0e700c9aabb0434492041f99ec4a5a2"},{"bytes":6675,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"229bd813b9d4593f2152dcaf7373956d86938aee4d230d5af6d8ba6087cc6550"},{"bytes":6380,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"32e67e6fe8e5a2f0bede4bcd72898919ed31f091fa8412311f1ba40e364afe28"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ef29c67b833074a497cf914272a2e91070fa86fa4e56eff3bebdcdd63f9d5ed8"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d28f6d215e3d0239c2f9c09522f1f7b1ad3453306565c32878a10d05184d30d4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b15e087379e159944aa71ce0c890de7bf12cda680794b97df0196ee10d8d4585"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102361"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102361
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102361

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
32e67e6fe8e5a2f0bede4bcd72898919ed31f091fa8412311f1ba40e364afe28

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102361, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102361.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102361" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102361" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102361 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102361 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102361 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102361 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102361", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 906 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16732, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "93066b001f6e6237aa9766ff917c9637b0e700c9aabb0434492041f99ec4a5a2" }, { "bytes": 6675, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "229bd813b9d4593f2152dcaf7373956d86938aee4d230d5af6d8ba6087cc6550" }, { "bytes": 6380, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "32e67e6fe8e5a2f0bede4bcd72898919ed31f091fa8412311f1ba40e364afe28" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102361/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102361", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-746a-b763-547d0dddc9f3" } olkhMdSiZFN/y8pK39OurGV0e/XUoZfjXSKhcih2cOvZyGrD7W8BtlnDzExbodWEUJzI8FiLG4jjmPEKEU5cAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: olkhMdSiZFN/y8pK39OurGV0e/XUoZfjXSKhcih2cOvZyGrD7W8BtlnDzExbodWEUJzI8FiLG4jjmPEKEU5cAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17530,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d5dc1756444d78a151dbfa94dd5db6009a7443f3c05852977db27344b61fe753"},{"bytes":7363,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"957c2ef96fd2d497ebc32a84c4b5c612d942495e2aa5da20702625e870d55fda"},{"bytes":7065,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"713306e2ab89c6985696cceba0407b9b253b9414f6ebf1ad428a26d3f3e63aa4"},{"bytes":2773,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"637c376531d9dc1bba3948fe1f72d78548223eb62b77585b6fbeaeddd0c25884"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c1f28ab3e4c4a9aa347a6b03ddc64f0298ec2e6720dd216e65dfa9d91b4b9ea6"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"493e82b747cdc50ed62a55a327521d1252e12ecba77d972d50abf195b2401dd5"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102362"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102362
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102362

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
713306e2ab89c6985696cceba0407b9b253b9414f6ebf1ad428a26d3f3e63aa4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102362, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102362.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102362" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102362" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102362 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102362 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102362 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102362 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102362", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17530, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d5dc1756444d78a151dbfa94dd5db6009a7443f3c05852977db27344b61fe753" }, { "bytes": 7363, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "957c2ef96fd2d497ebc32a84c4b5c612d942495e2aa5da20702625e870d55fda" }, { "bytes": 7065, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "713306e2ab89c6985696cceba0407b9b253b9414f6ebf1ad428a26d3f3e63aa4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102362/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102362", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7031-84e3-64130a3ca977" } Min8M7dJCYfUAeS1OntcqT1lBLLU2kV9d0T33pRwlwHMXJQ7mLNd8+2REzI5oAQitBTkfCTtk8fRklvqXtpCDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Min8M7dJCYfUAeS1OntcqT1lBLLU2kV9d0T33pRwlwHMXJQ7mLNd8+2REzI5oAQitBTkfCTtk8fRklvqXtpCDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17281,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1be346372e85ecc96bdd303c8c7a518674ecedec73da1f6f06f47bc98b664597"},{"bytes":7157,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"8e1bd9737bc3e544e0ea3375759cc855d5e4eae35bccdb68a297d4576379f211"},{"bytes":6859,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"48f76c3b821a67e3631d352b009e7118b1855ed5fe4889e6deab6e1323702cbe"},{"bytes":2772,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0ad6e02b568dd9ecb86675f6e03be4f6b2550c458dcc6a7d3490518741cf07b0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6073e630279263f76b702b729857f9b861d1937c34a428437a58803602041116"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"520a6915bb5a7186fbf975124cd73ba6830b3cc8b01e4dcbd7e6ed4887f128db"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102363"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102363
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102363

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
48f76c3b821a67e3631d352b009e7118b1855ed5fe4889e6deab6e1323702cbe

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102363, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102363.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102363" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102363" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102363 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102363 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102363 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102363 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102364

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
80aef8a85840a9a233412ada0517360100c8947dbdde57afea5a4017003f4ba0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102364, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102364.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102364" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102364" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102364 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102364 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102364 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102364 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102364", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 906 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16732, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "eb1f54f3c7697a5b16c21aeb4b4455ee7d00f192be8f94f9dca1128bbab7f683" }, { "bytes": 6675, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "21e2022ed5e12fabec7ee4630d74553635acfa2919727cdac7e21f39c3574e8c" }, { "bytes": 6380, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "80aef8a85840a9a233412ada0517360100c8947dbdde57afea5a4017003f4ba0" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102364/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102364", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7a13-a633-424d9acadcc2" } /Frhf9pxa6i2ggS4njThmR+1/gInxX5N43JTedX0GsIqrzrgDg3HNsgKyAlAwxBhToaOsKxhOHlFaA37VDHIAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: /Frhf9pxa6i2ggS4njThmR+1/gInxX5N43JTedX0GsIqrzrgDg3HNsgKyAlAwxBhToaOsKxhOHlFaA37VDHIAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17530,"name":"index.html","sha256":"30c39296df816bd798dc31b532787832b3bd14d8bcd5e2392ec7528af402ea3e"},{"bytes":7363,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"805f77e7bcc465b9d58c6468a07429ab719881008e8bebed5a4c7b27eeb92c3e"},{"bytes":7065,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"20bbc0c979e8161ed477c88dcab83fa784faee469a08fb12c0b01415b517f817"},{"bytes":2773,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7c70736d9dae08fbb3d31519c0a4e8cb8867f31d5af35eebaad45d0c9b933c54"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"67583de4efa7394120848094abd09003599e7f4fd83bf228d25ac7aaceb20527"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"592fa8a9af31cb77e31834a80126c3adef1ad3b1b9fb6ad09ee42723fc52bc78"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102365"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102365
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102365

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
20bbc0c979e8161ed477c88dcab83fa784faee469a08fb12c0b01415b517f817

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102365, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102365.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102365" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102365" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102365 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102365 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102365 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102365 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102365", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17530, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "30c39296df816bd798dc31b532787832b3bd14d8bcd5e2392ec7528af402ea3e" }, { "bytes": 7363, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "805f77e7bcc465b9d58c6468a07429ab719881008e8bebed5a4c7b27eeb92c3e" }, { "bytes": 7065, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "20bbc0c979e8161ed477c88dcab83fa784faee469a08fb12c0b01415b517f817" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102365/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102365", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7af0-8149-7ace02c4da55" } Y7iMNxGdzqIzJ8y1IxSuUVvts85alwbbxeXRJ8I8lT2G4SswqFKgwX4XFX2q/peSnkko0DeUA+r+DKCeP7vcCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Y7iMNxGdzqIzJ8y1IxSuUVvts85alwbbxeXRJ8I8lT2G4SswqFKgwX4XFX2q/peSnkko0DeUA+r+DKCeP7vcCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17281,"name":"index.html","sha256":"39887eed59bf939649ee66ab4eea67f0170d11c9833a1c2aa00d864318bedd07"},{"bytes":7157,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"79f4c04ca20c868f243018f1f9a21926fb01626c96139937b43024616c57a3e7"},{"bytes":6859,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7f00607c58d2c86ad904a286e0a8380acaa31df2fbdff9585bb97f84eaec6fbb"},{"bytes":2772,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c57fab11f84b83e7af5bf1cf217d8c92b927f16f812037451214bf7925a878c0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f3564e96c10c14d21d189b6c744dd98b797451b5473d4524e8289ecd4187c5d4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"22ece49d9370832aa4fbaedd3b3f0349e34fcf1cd6c0806c202a6dd8ff0c74b8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102366"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102366
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102366

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7f00607c58d2c86ad904a286e0a8380acaa31df2fbdff9585bb97f84eaec6fbb

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102366, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102366.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102366" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102366" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102366 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102366 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102366 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102366 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102366", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 977 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17281, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "39887eed59bf939649ee66ab4eea67f0170d11c9833a1c2aa00d864318bedd07" }, { "bytes": 7157, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "79f4c04ca20c868f243018f1f9a21926fb01626c96139937b43024616c57a3e7" }, { "bytes": 6859, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7f00607c58d2c86ad904a286e0a8380acaa31df2fbdff9585bb97f84eaec6fbb" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102366/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102366", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7875-9550-6e6a48b95e6a" } 01ybqdB1mjFk5P2Nc27hRd5bo1qkHZCy4saM9OZE5M7O3wHAkrRKQz8dCcwHVzMx0JY0+N/XefQDpRuTJCc5Bg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 01ybqdB1mjFk5P2Nc27hRd5bo1qkHZCy4saM9OZE5M7O3wHAkrRKQz8dCcwHVzMx0JY0+N/XefQDpRuTJCc5Bg== {"files":[{"bytes":16351,"name":"index.html","sha256":"019c393f3de4f8cfde6513be2d6a457602bc5cfc056eaf4fb3c7cd67a5025744"},{"bytes":6363,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"617d9e64c2b18c53db20913f0907280bd08ec131aa0c4521e241af1f38676f3c"},{"bytes":6047,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"11c670987eed53f6d0b9873e04458486174ddc61c8a441a3075e7e491543aa29"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"10091b5c98199c9ea443fdd8aa16f8ad3e33c9509c29785c966ac687346ff257"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b20089c35b85540b19d6164f1385fd412f8bcccc637cf70391937a1f0618f747"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4c6eaf5e76f7540a24888dc6ebf43c50a0a1d1948b2722051f01d78f35aeb21f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102367"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102367
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102367

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
11c670987eed53f6d0b9873e04458486174ddc61c8a441a3075e7e491543aa29

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102367, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102367.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102367" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102367" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102367 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102367 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102367 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102367 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102367", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16351, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "019c393f3de4f8cfde6513be2d6a457602bc5cfc056eaf4fb3c7cd67a5025744" }, { "bytes": 6363, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "617d9e64c2b18c53db20913f0907280bd08ec131aa0c4521e241af1f38676f3c" }, { "bytes": 6047, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "11c670987eed53f6d0b9873e04458486174ddc61c8a441a3075e7e491543aa29" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102367/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102367", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7114-810a-bf18edcb0068" } zau/Q5ZbQojsVljc3rnFI1It3VL7/Zg4aC62O73jho5rBI/oN/VvYoiUVxj5MdrJ5uyJAULBbiTAoLG6O4Y5AQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: zau/Q5ZbQojsVljc3rnFI1It3VL7/Zg4aC62O73jho5rBI/oN/VvYoiUVxj5MdrJ5uyJAULBbiTAoLG6O4Y5AQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17159,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d9975668868cb56773255e2d65787894aa3787717f36687fa2133f13c70e2b74"},{"bytes":7061,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"10e906d88594c27f80867ad8ac1e1905839433888a50aa98d033a8a8269dedf5"},{"bytes":6742,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"940c2ca022a7117c53b78e1fa1e7e070aa3f752c553771a8d61610b41f5ecb01"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ecceff0f661a600c3c900f762d7b2fe619afa06b7fd814e4c3e0708702aff73b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8c2716843707d226c4fca3a3c2415a5007410418dae39f5dda17bd60eb52c692"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c8b127c1188208747de4b51ae1ce0b172af7da35e62d854c20d3f735fc8071c8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102368"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102368
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102368

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
940c2ca022a7117c53b78e1fa1e7e070aa3f752c553771a8d61610b41f5ecb01

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102368, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102368.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102368" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102368" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102368 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102368 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102368 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102368 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102369

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
4d1320ec05a7a7194e7635fd5aaac52f8430a92fcb6376a8f7b7a00b87d45608

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102369, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102369.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102369" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102369" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102369 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102369 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102369 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102369 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102370

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
7b06b5db60ae090ad276a396e9278795281064667d6d397737911e34f48732c8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102370, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102370.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102370" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102370" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102370 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102370 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102370 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102370 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102370", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16352, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d20b1464d0bd76ef552fdf46b40722354d0071afae357aa823c2319ec67a355a" }, { "bytes": 6364, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "11b7c7d3134b566861183472d3b1515bcfdc3960aff95bf9c7ed0fcd66841b96" }, { "bytes": 6048, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7b06b5db60ae090ad276a396e9278795281064667d6d397737911e34f48732c8" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102370/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102370", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-73be-a5f9-20bb89a70f39" } XZ3btUlBQG2mwQ0pGir5AYw+Znw6eM5aFju58jzUGB+onoFLYM8PphTZa3J4v0ErKR0W3i9F9RWxVciy4XVSDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: XZ3btUlBQG2mwQ0pGir5AYw+Znw6eM5aFju58jzUGB+onoFLYM8PphTZa3J4v0ErKR0W3i9F9RWxVciy4XVSDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17160,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c397a02be515b9164eb864cfba0b96a6cb711ffc54a1db7157177d3ca2ead6f4"},{"bytes":7062,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c72054fa89ebab6a77146e00a7d7747f6cbfe90074d91818f8979c4357382617"},{"bytes":6743,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"38156cceeabbe99e840c7576a63df3898c561a979bd6d8d3395cf5b873f59697"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f365c399fd62282afa1b30e2350ab9fe59f177aba25d328df00f7c49fd82f73c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ff2dd387ffd6ad79cc694b3466d4702cc81e0e75977e14855de41ed240b833ec"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"31702841dab05f69ace76149038d8feaa186f7643a48c8a8786eb7182c18c7eb"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102371"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102371
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102371

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
38156cceeabbe99e840c7576a63df3898c561a979bd6d8d3395cf5b873f59697

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102371, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102371.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102371" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102371" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102371 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102371 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102371 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102371 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102371", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17160, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c397a02be515b9164eb864cfba0b96a6cb711ffc54a1db7157177d3ca2ead6f4" }, { "bytes": 7062, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c72054fa89ebab6a77146e00a7d7747f6cbfe90074d91818f8979c4357382617" }, { "bytes": 6743, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "38156cceeabbe99e840c7576a63df3898c561a979bd6d8d3395cf5b873f59697" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102371/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102371", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7d88-8c8c-49e7cbd77be1" } PmyHgfV9s1tV4C14SZoIYBfdYNwofwGhj9TtLcAONGQvI2oqHHxbr9KwWjrc/WM5ZehbVMfew0CYGGRyAc+JCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: PmyHgfV9s1tV4C14SZoIYBfdYNwofwGhj9TtLcAONGQvI2oqHHxbr9KwWjrc/WM5ZehbVMfew0CYGGRyAc+JCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16907,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5536a9d8aee708eaf6afeb5ac0d9d0e4a8043f5cf37d828dd7e8edef6878f5ad"},{"bytes":6852,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0c6e04f0eb6a6144785e0493e4f165f33f53d50b157d046d5677798eb379eeee"},{"bytes":6533,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d2ceb55063050789c9de6565765ca08c132dda11daca68d42857a75b5d7e9fc8"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0a4f2ef16b036422694cd923153b5d1a85f78dc33ca7d77ccf958ed099ea17e9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"65cf294d83a9ada42008d2ad47d23670dd6ef2e6d640a8dcb0836d23faafaae4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b37a72901f245beb6bb363686ec8b1c4578c7d931a3e3201279aa99241b460f4"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102372"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102372
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102372

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d2ceb55063050789c9de6565765ca08c132dda11daca68d42857a75b5d7e9fc8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102372, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102372.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102372" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102372" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102372 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102372 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102372 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102372 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102373

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e2989a1d99364e24a1e3577dfeaa8568aaf896896261c1fe1de2a38aedb6cf68

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102373, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102373.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102373" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102373" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102373 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102373 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102373 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102373 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102374

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6e0ab17ef45c7150fb86c2963479c8c9218f88e482b50c84dacf8242c4ac3cec

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102374, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102374.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102374" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102374" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102374 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102374 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102374 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102374 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102374", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17164, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8cbc50761f16742f2b765dbc2081ea9a07f441923523c7a70dd8c0322a7b190a" }, { "bytes": 7066, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "38c468ac6c1a6b6c5e92b709db9bc5933cc299ee1a986d5b8c9a566ade49c58a" }, { "bytes": 6747, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6e0ab17ef45c7150fb86c2963479c8c9218f88e482b50c84dacf8242c4ac3cec" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102374/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102374", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-70e5-bd8b-472e49ee0c9b" } 51jU+Xql9vG7em5DTY50flXj72pabyFF9yuwJm/BqT+K9PxQ5FKpxmKMGE14RDWYpUSxfMCpIxwapmBAQkNnBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 51jU+Xql9vG7em5DTY50flXj72pabyFF9yuwJm/BqT+K9PxQ5FKpxmKMGE14RDWYpUSxfMCpIxwapmBAQkNnBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16911,"name":"index.html","sha256":"332d5b57667fca3d3b4d4dbd481a4e37201a78aba38359f38d903be667649862"},{"bytes":6856,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"61ff7fdca674ffea5134df743f3b77ff08a7ebaaa0006d7c9370ef778770b66b"},{"bytes":6537,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"61c7718a45efde2111fe25f77b14a374275e2aa56e87f22815fd90eee397731f"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4bc10122e56e0d6a1c9d4ad05b221a2abbd47ec33f6deefe7cdcadde01530529"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d775deb38439b0645c1268a5b7313190f7e6e6e2c1c21721279b2a224e141d66"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9eadf8ffa2a6cf05e0baf5978e057bce7f8b6abc9ccb690d59d28daff0050890"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102375"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102375
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102375

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
61c7718a45efde2111fe25f77b14a374275e2aa56e87f22815fd90eee397731f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102375, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102375.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102375" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102375" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102375 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102375 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102375 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102375 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102375", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16911, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "332d5b57667fca3d3b4d4dbd481a4e37201a78aba38359f38d903be667649862" }, { "bytes": 6856, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "61ff7fdca674ffea5134df743f3b77ff08a7ebaaa0006d7c9370ef778770b66b" }, { "bytes": 6537, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "61c7718a45efde2111fe25f77b14a374275e2aa56e87f22815fd90eee397731f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102375/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102375", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7a2e-8f21-5d7f8ca60241" } AS8eEuAqJ/jGQNnsUBAViNbbPBdUpKgr8Ka/TMk9SlOKIQJ6XOmubrOL89I0q0iLTnDTagQrXWUT8aIoUnpeDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: AS8eEuAqJ/jGQNnsUBAViNbbPBdUpKgr8Ka/TMk9SlOKIQJ6XOmubrOL89I0q0iLTnDTagQrXWUT8aIoUnpeDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16545,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3bf79f0ba75c7d6d9ea97b72bfe3b1f765e7f236baac491cfb931a3ca0403cf4"},{"bytes":6525,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"662836ce6b579432c81127a7adef6a432a459431d80e20d49ea294dca4812c38"},{"bytes":6219,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ef64a6ea6a65f73d1308d47e252dd414c83f47f82af25a09b1838616d7fe0f37"},{"bytes":2728,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fb8265ec50a66d9f7e10330a9c328a96e93ac2660a0426abdb6d61d161c6baeb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"94ae3625933c02603b443a3595062968d89ceca791cdea99bf15b724fc3d9941"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"2b2538b0cddf6fa1a8398d6494a5aaced41e5a08c93113289f9df314fb655d91"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102376"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102376
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102376

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ef64a6ea6a65f73d1308d47e252dd414c83f47f82af25a09b1838616d7fe0f37

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102376, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102376.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102376" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102376" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102376 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102376 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102376 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102376 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102376", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 894 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16545, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3bf79f0ba75c7d6d9ea97b72bfe3b1f765e7f236baac491cfb931a3ca0403cf4" }, { "bytes": 6525, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "662836ce6b579432c81127a7adef6a432a459431d80e20d49ea294dca4812c38" }, { "bytes": 6219, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ef64a6ea6a65f73d1308d47e252dd414c83f47f82af25a09b1838616d7fe0f37" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102376/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102376", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-79f0-be2f-38f5fa3fe86b" } hHWiOKZlUiropkZEzRJkBy7n1c6rTDYv23vFGtEju7LvUSg5xq2KMVEd+pXuHnm8vfw5FAsuTSIXo9fh05uzBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: hHWiOKZlUiropkZEzRJkBy7n1c6rTDYv23vFGtEju7LvUSg5xq2KMVEd+pXuHnm8vfw5FAsuTSIXo9fh05uzBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17353,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5bfbe121845308222c5d6eb8bc243211c57f8d611867cb3bd21c5d1a019747ff"},{"bytes":7223,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d2559edfe4d49df35a6ded1ab9b8d3178f21fccc9f401303412439f49b41282d"},{"bytes":6914,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7b9dd8378cf8ca2237fe8fe63fffbd60f23e4e726cac5649f3a7f0be2402312d"},{"bytes":2738,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"dbd1876b5118874689140c94cd17783ef24b4d7df4f46cc8ac9d5b3b3aa3d542"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c54256c0488a46b3331d63f95ab7039529a7112471f00a8ba8976e18e3f6bb69"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b09a717c5b3ee24062969a800dcd3291f69224381e3360284052bd2ded6cc474"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102377"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102377
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102377

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7b9dd8378cf8ca2237fe8fe63fffbd60f23e4e726cac5649f3a7f0be2402312d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102377, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102377.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102377" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102377" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102377 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102377 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102377 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102377 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102378

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
f036443fd5136f44ddec59fa44113f66f30caf22dfd2bcd12236ea54536b325f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102378, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102378.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102378" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102378" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102378 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102378 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102378 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102378 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102379

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
fcff0d38180ec64663c1539876ffe06fbb2b29e23f4a72b43a0206893a4b46da

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102379, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102379.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102379" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102379" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102379 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102379 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102379 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102379 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102379", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 879 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16491, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0df72ea63656190b974b06f7b8b2c5ab943eb7cb037a244745718512d8e4c523" }, { "bytes": 6471, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "132fad836e6ce09e2457fe78074db7c5b4622d078b78977510950874328c9250" }, { "bytes": 6165, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fcff0d38180ec64663c1539876ffe06fbb2b29e23f4a72b43a0206893a4b46da" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102379/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102379", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-71e4-a1d3-1d0423ff747a" } tB5JYQit/W1PUP58an5NSj3wT1VTEfmoQEu1Ilo1+q7/6r9cTXFz41jpC3jXlFheI2iAdT/eo5nzkUpHOY92CQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: tB5JYQit/W1PUP58an5NSj3wT1VTEfmoQEu1Ilo1+q7/6r9cTXFz41jpC3jXlFheI2iAdT/eo5nzkUpHOY92CQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17299,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f017b450952159a2c813f3632b108822b95b9f58a0b47cc2c64021ed9af78897"},{"bytes":7169,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0e5214a7942e7066d11d8757db7b40974dd8f6d69254cd7bf3eb982d7f35481d"},{"bytes":6860,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f2632b8e86636e3ede73cd0eabbf1e5a39acff8231b6e4085c5007f59b172319"},{"bytes":2737,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a2b8b075e3bf6da8fdf152ce04630b5ccf794f9052f69af72135451594f68384"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ff3e3bdcfdd17f6aeb85e85264b79e0b19d74118a9cccbe3760b8189996b7a63"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8c89399b8f15bc86fa0f1181011c4726f1c571a1c2e78b8735a52a7739b8005b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102380"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102380
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102380

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
f2632b8e86636e3ede73cd0eabbf1e5a39acff8231b6e4085c5007f59b172319

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102380, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102380.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102380" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102380" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102380 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102380 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102380 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102380 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102380", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 985 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17299, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f017b450952159a2c813f3632b108822b95b9f58a0b47cc2c64021ed9af78897" }, { "bytes": 7169, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0e5214a7942e7066d11d8757db7b40974dd8f6d69254cd7bf3eb982d7f35481d" }, { "bytes": 6860, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f2632b8e86636e3ede73cd0eabbf1e5a39acff8231b6e4085c5007f59b172319" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102380/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102380", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-74f4-b9c7-d953d92ae2e1" } flh8f4s31jXFwl3eMPlsObjX/GjS46TPhkywYAnIEg1d8HtolNLgfKm/D6RsqSfoUWRyh7B4Dh4Ziy5gDkPIAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: flh8f4s31jXFwl3eMPlsObjX/GjS46TPhkywYAnIEg1d8HtolNLgfKm/D6RsqSfoUWRyh7B4Dh4Ziy5gDkPIAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17046,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5c197bd9bbbde35a03410171f64a6fbd3f3fa4db8f0e57a578318c4696dc3112"},{"bytes":6959,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"748d9fa542a3918190203d28ae0b388698d6208da01383889dc96d222e271fac"},{"bytes":6650,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8a8d61f94a51d4182af670aa2463b2e67918b61d3050154a4ef7c0d9b464ffd1"},{"bytes":2737,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2ce0dbe5a8752ab04f6be38c820149a70783792c8d600274a2fa533987968998"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"61aa914b1a963fa105e3f9af36a15b331575125fdccb82d4f1375d5c78b7ee1d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"011e4a1ee5cef8ee5df96b2fbf080e52e4bce045832f9f86f667dcfcb410299e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102381"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102381
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102381

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8a8d61f94a51d4182af670aa2463b2e67918b61d3050154a4ef7c0d9b464ffd1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102381, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102381.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102381" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102381" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102381 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102381 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102381 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102381 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102381", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 950 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17046, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5c197bd9bbbde35a03410171f64a6fbd3f3fa4db8f0e57a578318c4696dc3112" }, { "bytes": 6959, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "748d9fa542a3918190203d28ae0b388698d6208da01383889dc96d222e271fac" }, { "bytes": 6650, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8a8d61f94a51d4182af670aa2463b2e67918b61d3050154a4ef7c0d9b464ffd1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102381/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102381", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7151-b1c4-2dab7b5e9809" } 4cwLCvAx3MYgaO3URV21Dy/+rixufh751k4egHHiXmN5DQvqmBc5N7DwYGDm7Y9EPZBzaYb7UCwBfH/t2yIYDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 4cwLCvAx3MYgaO3URV21Dy/+rixufh751k4egHHiXmN5DQvqmBc5N7DwYGDm7Y9EPZBzaYb7UCwBfH/t2yIYDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16245,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b593d93ade4b1af353de92b7a0884d036b530421743545f6f963a43fa9bcb6a2"},{"bytes":6273,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"936d4ffa8cf0aa411369211917d3f0128a76ec809b7326706ac38c5332e131a6"},{"bytes":5965,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0123d7b0f5edebc5cbeafce997442b8afec3712f0ca08ddf725d5ace6bf8b0dc"},{"bytes":2741,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"82dd64710b7c68bbd6933a807e3e3b9752cd181ebd96d7b9a982ca21dac6efa5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"fd51f590df78559712c691c72c253c61fa61d2a9e1042e2f54acce36a6723618"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f0d33313f1b116c982b758bbe63f580778dc0592b4f4c09535999dec7e937aeb"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102382"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102382
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102382

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
0123d7b0f5edebc5cbeafce997442b8afec3712f0ca08ddf725d5ace6bf8b0dc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102382, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102382.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102382" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102382" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102382 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102382 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102382 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102382 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102382", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16245, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b593d93ade4b1af353de92b7a0884d036b530421743545f6f963a43fa9bcb6a2" }, { "bytes": 6273, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "936d4ffa8cf0aa411369211917d3f0128a76ec809b7326706ac38c5332e131a6" }, { "bytes": 5965, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0123d7b0f5edebc5cbeafce997442b8afec3712f0ca08ddf725d5ace6bf8b0dc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102382/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102382", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7941-a518-1f0fe3d5485c" } a2ko6l5d2/hlSGM9ITXNp3BU6oKPF7amTun4HSKMb8aFKNiJgEEhs6M2SLB8HvVhipXusPI8NtXXNptvvGrzCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: a2ko6l5d2/hlSGM9ITXNp3BU6oKPF7amTun4HSKMb8aFKNiJgEEhs6M2SLB8HvVhipXusPI8NtXXNptvvGrzCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17053,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b4afb1084b80f37df15fa5a564de5f299740c414458960c3361cc6031835a438"},{"bytes":6971,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"10660a2312389a072309e83e6ae4dfc7a13996b8e58b035555219cd782f920c9"},{"bytes":6660,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5a212417ab52bc15c2154b020a3c61818084c73d32f1ffe0f3cc73590844d7be"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"62ded8db43db38f775600b4066fca175356684f42fb303bbe00a929d84094188"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"836ba0ac570cdfc89eab04b20e1682d744ffa350066bcb2ae31755ea55c3359d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ca9e398cf754151c55fd9c2b10479471f6b122621323c2b96be3d9cc1403240f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102383"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102383
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102383

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
5a212417ab52bc15c2154b020a3c61818084c73d32f1ffe0f3cc73590844d7be

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102383, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102383.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102383" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102383" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102383 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102383 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102383 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102383 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102384

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
41d7a1a6eabb8043bd0564b68a3e5dc0a61a09b584a80d3a971369b8db950cc3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102384, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102384.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102384" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102384" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102384 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102384 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102384 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102384 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102385

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
7aa5fa15b3113d43eb1eee011ecc8c02c5ff5bcf417553c9ff21015271640f51

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102385, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102385.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102385" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102385" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102385 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102385 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102385 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102385 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102385", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16245, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "beaf7100ab81d911eff7ad1668410dae3e468674ad7311fec1248341126d825d" }, { "bytes": 6273, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1ee93fad3b5cf2a7c2f761d3054abd0da4c8e8dd670fe84aff5ba207cf7315ee" }, { "bytes": 5965, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7aa5fa15b3113d43eb1eee011ecc8c02c5ff5bcf417553c9ff21015271640f51" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102385/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102385", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7d54-8e7a-70473a94a9c3" } Hrx5YxIEzNZYDdZYRQk8NKGjk1sReORAYuCNUmywd0BMb7J8WorpK8z878wECeZjou4T8xrs6lnZDNfa7HRnAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Hrx5YxIEzNZYDdZYRQk8NKGjk1sReORAYuCNUmywd0BMb7J8WorpK8z878wECeZjou4T8xrs6lnZDNfa7HRnAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17053,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f730abea807c1f6cf34dfec5d6e07a4b206aad6421247f682dfa94b7792eca3d"},{"bytes":6971,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ba4dffc79b645cf628ced1e33fe68c10fd74a8c4a5378bf8ed9abff59faa8909"},{"bytes":6660,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6dc7d145c08c40e7d7bb804c27d7b43d4c405e6cf13a44d5b6273f93fdf4954e"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1ff956b7f6ca2d10a90bc0c8ca30cddc4649103c58ffde48d6b9d00f7f5ceed6"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7cc102f15870d74fcfccaac2e76d88ad108caaf05cf890b8be069fc94fe461b3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e93ffbb3b13e63d7c84f6ac5cbd18b64f7ead7adec9ed5e3a45f212338c2727d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102386"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102386
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102386

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6dc7d145c08c40e7d7bb804c27d7b43d4c405e6cf13a44d5b6273f93fdf4954e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102386, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102386.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102386" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102386" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102386 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102386 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102386 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102386 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102386", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17053, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f730abea807c1f6cf34dfec5d6e07a4b206aad6421247f682dfa94b7792eca3d" }, { "bytes": 6971, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ba4dffc79b645cf628ced1e33fe68c10fd74a8c4a5378bf8ed9abff59faa8909" }, { "bytes": 6660, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6dc7d145c08c40e7d7bb804c27d7b43d4c405e6cf13a44d5b6273f93fdf4954e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102386/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102386", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-751a-8008-8a830590dcf0" } t5ZvuKLKjNZqBRjbA/L7Yg6GmUJkwyQgW8Bjb8DN0MK4mnm9Js/EbmF8bWRmu9AKFD90n0+lbAz2r9pbJ5glAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: t5ZvuKLKjNZqBRjbA/L7Yg6GmUJkwyQgW8Bjb8DN0MK4mnm9Js/EbmF8bWRmu9AKFD90n0+lbAz2r9pbJ5glAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16800,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3b38f9bfeb9354c1f4135892b479f5cb62a742a91b6d5fba83742399952c9ce0"},{"bytes":6761,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9133da852145ee362e30338ec7ba3999a1dfea42a5826fbfbea74000cb2186d3"},{"bytes":6450,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"af190a3d0daa0de9ec16b547af1bb90a238dd7300dc3ec6bc284da0896e3460b"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4102e69dffb35ec401ec030225198e2d00ed1dc1092dbf7ea7289d5fb01d71c0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"63e66b6f823b219650c0cf5996f04797698a410f3e2022928f2c5ba7b7fa2692"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ca19f322a94915123095dfa2ff87b86c906844325ad368da4d5c2f74235f2faf"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102387"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102387
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102387

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
af190a3d0daa0de9ec16b547af1bb90a238dd7300dc3ec6bc284da0896e3460b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102387, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102387.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102387" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102387" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102387 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102387 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102387 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102387 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102388

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
f2df042a4ba7d3ebad713f7f7b7a26bf613ac080591626a7175978f04ceaabd6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102388, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102388.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102388" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102388" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102388 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102388 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102388 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102388 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102388", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16340, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "da17c2a3b23d21c5bf2943e1404a78b1455ddc9ffeb2b970aa7f01efc7c3bad5" }, { "bytes": 6358, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3de233f21beecfbbf00b9040f3db4db1b1800c844b16e3128dcc9fdbcfb6e510" }, { "bytes": 6045, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f2df042a4ba7d3ebad713f7f7b7a26bf613ac080591626a7175978f04ceaabd6" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102388/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102388", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7df5-ac8b-efe9ab81fc41" } 2arTiCIp74gtznUmm0TyK+loHu1DKwz75VO6VswJKfpUtRAGvKYi0FaqcUozO3OsMF2hXRZOxKul7L+W//glCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 2arTiCIp74gtznUmm0TyK+loHu1DKwz75VO6VswJKfpUtRAGvKYi0FaqcUozO3OsMF2hXRZOxKul7L+W//glCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17148,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3de086e4c6205d46fa72ce4ffef59555ae056f4a4b7cbd887e9ac2bf2dc2f247"},{"bytes":7056,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"62e6fac0daa9ac61756ef03b737b708e5534cf05046766f1794eb56005b17afd"},{"bytes":6740,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e0aba88778ec26889220f384394e1273bb2640ff05794bfea6c7a0518fb1dc25"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"81ebb5c4a6a7938a9d85d226e017550536be292465d66f7cd327b324cf7618c9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"124be8280f5c43b2612477d4c2d170adae199b5ae3405830aca10c6342caa55e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cc92fb181f49edb9a71d280d7f798655a586c8556b954db83897e27e73330782"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102389"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102389
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102389

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e0aba88778ec26889220f384394e1273bb2640ff05794bfea6c7a0518fb1dc25

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102389, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102389.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102389" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102389" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102389 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102389 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102389 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102389 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102389", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17148, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3de086e4c6205d46fa72ce4ffef59555ae056f4a4b7cbd887e9ac2bf2dc2f247" }, { "bytes": 7056, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "62e6fac0daa9ac61756ef03b737b708e5534cf05046766f1794eb56005b17afd" }, { "bytes": 6740, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e0aba88778ec26889220f384394e1273bb2640ff05794bfea6c7a0518fb1dc25" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102389/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102389", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7a1b-b8fa-269dac775301" } AGrv3/Cx9WuLfQ95lUocYUEGgAbAL/LqT2/9WFncThodfVNE08tCV2gP7mOB/ed1XBVZ9iZ8H93O5MkWCcvnAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: AGrv3/Cx9WuLfQ95lUocYUEGgAbAL/LqT2/9WFncThodfVNE08tCV2gP7mOB/ed1XBVZ9iZ8H93O5MkWCcvnAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16895,"name":"index.html","sha256":"8d8c71b00e9ea4595fabe9dcd27c9b90eb39b84db1de87d46e8d48c0abf898a2"},{"bytes":6846,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"fd23e756727474d86eee9852c6250a9c7b6abb40dd95ab6543b098c60961bcec"},{"bytes":6530,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c51a49179f24779e7b27dbc8e1acc03dc17476907c7d0650a3bd2280603a3b65"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"83f0b7c5026d6d8801a97cf313a59e8037dbff5becb3f5f71b2fe4c8ad37d5ac"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a84f1e90dc68ca4d9b6b40a9b96fd8a8dfab3f49026bd31ed78de101b486fda3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a6cbd22da2b81b12cf53ee68eb82337f24567ce061e2c1c85e6575d6a37de302"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102390"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102390
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102390

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c51a49179f24779e7b27dbc8e1acc03dc17476907c7d0650a3bd2280603a3b65

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102390, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102390.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102390" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102390" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102390 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102390 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102390 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102390 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102390", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16895, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8d8c71b00e9ea4595fabe9dcd27c9b90eb39b84db1de87d46e8d48c0abf898a2" }, { "bytes": 6846, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "fd23e756727474d86eee9852c6250a9c7b6abb40dd95ab6543b098c60961bcec" }, { "bytes": 6530, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c51a49179f24779e7b27dbc8e1acc03dc17476907c7d0650a3bd2280603a3b65" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102390/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102390", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-70d7-98c7-2e5e6a58ef27" } CG3gTFDETAWTiqjaT4ePHWrNgOU+hqyp3liV3x694ldu0nAZdQUGntrd4/V8FpwdNtATuMtnoJsPXcfFl/j1Cw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: CG3gTFDETAWTiqjaT4ePHWrNgOU+hqyp3liV3x694ldu0nAZdQUGntrd4/V8FpwdNtATuMtnoJsPXcfFl/j1Cw== {"files":[{"bytes":16341,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1ee1b93f53380682325a28c8aa47d60891446f22ed0184010d46593142804945"},{"bytes":6359,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"96e521e97c03828656279ebb201013a441efbe65eb82cd7d71b7cb258dded565"},{"bytes":6046,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"405477a2172bbbd301fcc85e3a2fe5c49fbce9a8a04ec9cd16dedadb8cbc72d0"},{"bytes":2746,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1d0c6f515508ddb507bb17689de7bee750a632d3c614acf2b23a04ed2a247841"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"80a087d0871d1bdcef9b59434ef23659d9dcd7c8d722165cd3d7786032358146"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b750fd026b20ab4284d99286dd45b7d21051a1515bc55e80a996f3ed49585529"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102391"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102391
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102391

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
405477a2172bbbd301fcc85e3a2fe5c49fbce9a8a04ec9cd16dedadb8cbc72d0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102391, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102391.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102391" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102391" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102391 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102391 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102391 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102391 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102391", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16341, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1ee1b93f53380682325a28c8aa47d60891446f22ed0184010d46593142804945" }, { "bytes": 6359, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "96e521e97c03828656279ebb201013a441efbe65eb82cd7d71b7cb258dded565" }, { "bytes": 6046, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "405477a2172bbbd301fcc85e3a2fe5c49fbce9a8a04ec9cd16dedadb8cbc72d0" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102391/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102391", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7d93-ab45-9b305d6a9c88" } +i7CxcOKdrLA+UO5oHKtmh+dIRRDPKNhce9jqGJVybN7ZZ4pdofGpLk4DEdfxtmppM0BZSKJA0Luhs7KOZW+Cg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +i7CxcOKdrLA+UO5oHKtmh+dIRRDPKNhce9jqGJVybN7ZZ4pdofGpLk4DEdfxtmppM0BZSKJA0Luhs7KOZW+Cg== {"files":[{"bytes":17149,"name":"index.html","sha256":"27adbc29eed981bd5d38265e38994f7abf8132837b559ed29dade3dcd35002eb"},{"bytes":7057,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7162883f0042104c594290554f7ab52e5805b33ea076b2bfcf5c40d0de332c4d"},{"bytes":6741,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6bfc256ca5722ae1e786574f07418946e43d8ddcfc9026437273d65b8f471e48"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"10d1c1b5e57569fdd37c5f8d358b500c03bbceceaf895b0496d58248c31feefd"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d909c85ac734f231eff7a44302022bcc8dbec45877ed382879bcbb5afd614978"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cb7c895fcb5e4cee1eb1b766d950b72d26256c2f0a28afe6a3a44b1eefe0e547"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102392"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102392
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102392

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6bfc256ca5722ae1e786574f07418946e43d8ddcfc9026437273d65b8f471e48

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102392, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102392.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102392" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102392" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102392 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102392 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102392 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102392 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102392", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17149, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "27adbc29eed981bd5d38265e38994f7abf8132837b559ed29dade3dcd35002eb" }, { "bytes": 7057, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7162883f0042104c594290554f7ab52e5805b33ea076b2bfcf5c40d0de332c4d" }, { "bytes": 6741, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6bfc256ca5722ae1e786574f07418946e43d8ddcfc9026437273d65b8f471e48" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102392/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102392", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7fe5-a26d-7e0d0a86ca36" } m3Ux60qVS1n/FStgAJe/VC70J1SqDwibXPQy9IY3xEISv4DjZ/foGLdYCMvUJ+/+G26PCWHRTi7Yn7fZYORFAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: m3Ux60qVS1n/FStgAJe/VC70J1SqDwibXPQy9IY3xEISv4DjZ/foGLdYCMvUJ+/+G26PCWHRTi7Yn7fZYORFAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16896,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3c6b6c49d4b9a74bb803d7219903d6c7051d2d1ab4b3671c46e0a9d1c70fa68f"},{"bytes":6847,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3f44e14b726cd78aa9a4a6da9354b779956105d3ad4b974e16a3f6597523d763"},{"bytes":6531,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0dad8bf4c5fc139f01d81d783e9fb6b83c46c0e35db08b35686f0e58fb68d823"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c1b930d2a62177b63503d339faa00df467e748fa232043b54b893628814e9913"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7eb0a108f9099a8f23a3c0a476816baec33a162444515fafd6546ab18af0b6cc"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d89a5622d2c767f3ced9274c8d2d7c9764311ae0b3f607c6acc3bf22d3885af2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102393"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102393
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102393

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
0dad8bf4c5fc139f01d81d783e9fb6b83c46c0e35db08b35686f0e58fb68d823

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102393, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102393.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102393" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102393" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102393 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102393 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102393 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102393 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102394

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
bb57f75691fdc04a2bc8829ef38ba9fce2e7c8a5f93343cc5b48e0bcd4fdffad

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102394, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102394.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102394" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102394" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102394 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102394 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102394 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102394 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102394", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16345, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3ba0f5e0909b82019820a7d30b4da0e60d86953b8d089014180fe68d70b4abee" }, { "bytes": 6363, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6c8243faec07555ece6a59cfb29ffc16fd9533eeea651e5083f7e9068a73561e" }, { "bytes": 6050, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bb57f75691fdc04a2bc8829ef38ba9fce2e7c8a5f93343cc5b48e0bcd4fdffad" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102394/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102394", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-70d4-8229-7032a98e4bb5" } Stcfw3itC2z1qRcJjBepB+gggsZ1sxoK3fl1aPOvslmGa7kLLHSVdhAFat2hpYSW1+fyT1//Mx2ZyUwM8iBwDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Stcfw3itC2z1qRcJjBepB+gggsZ1sxoK3fl1aPOvslmGa7kLLHSVdhAFat2hpYSW1+fyT1//Mx2ZyUwM8iBwDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17153,"name":"index.html","sha256":"328d086cf95617d971564c93018b0362d2b7c07a037e8b31869f15b704df9981"},{"bytes":7061,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"db2c39a8f044a3b516f770be11481fd62f3efecb02d91e623623f18b6ef8d607"},{"bytes":6745,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c07a82427bdd5765b7053d2a29dfc83c18f822a1ac712b773d0f7b7bb01c817b"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"94cd39dd416de3d009282d105ecb8440140bb199bf131d29ed9bc09e91a78a8d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b3872f384a9735146456c60d29992171cfb7703966ce4d1d02528f0f97157909"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a07a2235316b03fe4507acf27a4f2d5936d65a50dbe9975a36590e427d08bb98"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102395"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102395
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102395

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c07a82427bdd5765b7053d2a29dfc83c18f822a1ac712b773d0f7b7bb01c817b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102395, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102395.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102395" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102395" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102395 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102395 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102395 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102395 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102395", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17153, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "328d086cf95617d971564c93018b0362d2b7c07a037e8b31869f15b704df9981" }, { "bytes": 7061, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "db2c39a8f044a3b516f770be11481fd62f3efecb02d91e623623f18b6ef8d607" }, { "bytes": 6745, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c07a82427bdd5765b7053d2a29dfc83c18f822a1ac712b773d0f7b7bb01c817b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102395/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102395", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7c93-b4a2-01149b86287a" } /zGxVET7UEUImSPt6UEJ2wJCB1OuyflDUASrr94XAjx1/4dP5gjmHD+aBCw3/90EHqe0Ix1XLjbXSYOM3S2/Cw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: /zGxVET7UEUImSPt6UEJ2wJCB1OuyflDUASrr94XAjx1/4dP5gjmHD+aBCw3/90EHqe0Ix1XLjbXSYOM3S2/Cw== {"files":[{"bytes":16900,"name":"index.html","sha256":"171140218a126a4c61fe94de58689829672efc20827196e3bb25c09e9e696420"},{"bytes":6851,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"24a8c9407e6d814c5d4384d9153cc0f26da531f1ba57a93f3600cba411d8343b"},{"bytes":6535,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d7e4701d5ec6879da5823ec98204e878094d60e08de9cd35397c68c00ac01f12"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"075568fde73c13f2a43faba0af15ab6f0cc73e53e5d352af2c35718797b353a5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"828c6200d2b531370f96ea3073d3a39107dbee1b4c08495e5bf7146456d1260a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9dbcfea656379d496f8488ac4b42dd22e295c5df1c46bea4a303a4f3fbc8bfef"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102396"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102396
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102396

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d7e4701d5ec6879da5823ec98204e878094d60e08de9cd35397c68c00ac01f12

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102396, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102396.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102396" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102396" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102396 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102396 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102396 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102396 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102396", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16900, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "171140218a126a4c61fe94de58689829672efc20827196e3bb25c09e9e696420" }, { "bytes": 6851, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "24a8c9407e6d814c5d4384d9153cc0f26da531f1ba57a93f3600cba411d8343b" }, { "bytes": 6535, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d7e4701d5ec6879da5823ec98204e878094d60e08de9cd35397c68c00ac01f12" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102396/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102396", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-71c7-ae57-72dabd7ba91e" } Kxnt+mj8HJ6DVdZP3od+RDq4DtwjDvEHIQCgc4FZyTj3Nrf3tkgFJrF5XkRjhyOghF1KZvbUIaL/d2LIBrEKAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Kxnt+mj8HJ6DVdZP3od+RDq4DtwjDvEHIQCgc4FZyTj3Nrf3tkgFJrF5XkRjhyOghF1KZvbUIaL/d2LIBrEKAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16534,"name":"index.html","sha256":"eeef5f0a5d06988e2d09030ba8dd04157ea5ff72036c6cefb0367fe49e3c7d4c"},{"bytes":6520,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"af6a6dea84e8e9e632cb0ea0733c82b701d8b82a9f9af7525d7093028cae172f"},{"bytes":6217,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"281742b4ad6e8eb2a814e0b02a71c1ee8b6c2d83c0fac99cca185f02ff53f546"},{"bytes":2725,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"56fc5c7d56c14dffb59e2855ae0c886c1a7f9264548f045cd7000c4312aebcf4"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1cb9d376122d147f32e5e52d55a3d66541c1b35a7d48ee68052c4277b7cb5cba"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f132e6cdc7a01f290e0b772d5bea6c2033c63776205d19edeba4752e8410b358"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102397"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102397
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102397

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
281742b4ad6e8eb2a814e0b02a71c1ee8b6c2d83c0fac99cca185f02ff53f546

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102397, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102397.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102397" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102397" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102397 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102397 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102397 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102397 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102397", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 894 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16534, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "eeef5f0a5d06988e2d09030ba8dd04157ea5ff72036c6cefb0367fe49e3c7d4c" }, { "bytes": 6520, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "af6a6dea84e8e9e632cb0ea0733c82b701d8b82a9f9af7525d7093028cae172f" }, { "bytes": 6217, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "281742b4ad6e8eb2a814e0b02a71c1ee8b6c2d83c0fac99cca185f02ff53f546" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102397/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102397", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-70d2-8be8-166aaf8a8943" } bHmGf8qGMyGwSJfkqUgfj3viBN6Pv9xABhd2jvswLeXzyhxBFABRtQH1z6PTl9Q56hcKF8FQ5p3ZNldaPDowBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: bHmGf8qGMyGwSJfkqUgfj3viBN6Pv9xABhd2jvswLeXzyhxBFABRtQH1z6PTl9Q56hcKF8FQ5p3ZNldaPDowBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17342,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3d0c6dda6b1a6b6d44ec71d8ab43e918e3be63755aa9c527efca210caa730062"},{"bytes":7218,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"55eb6309e9b077069cba543b5f8fd843d9879949c5ea7e76b8c6c04cd14299f8"},{"bytes":6912,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"99633ccfaec81267ab4b2acc346997b253f01b4a49bf1ebfdbcd6f3ae9b0fee7"},{"bytes":2735,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8b5d8a68fb628fa7747008f35bb93514f36f96ac43111901833ac7ab2e3eacb9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a84fe3d5c8844122f80507b200cd81d1a90e472ecce840e4ec263bbd314eaaa2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"efdc8ade8295196c647d21ea82caaab15db6df3eaba0bba8ffe8e63f68357111"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102398"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102398
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102398

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
99633ccfaec81267ab4b2acc346997b253f01b4a49bf1ebfdbcd6f3ae9b0fee7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102398, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102398.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102398" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102398" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102398 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102398 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102398 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102398 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102399

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e37485613209dd913e46514fbebe92a91665403a2a0782f6cb311d7a3a092bee

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102399, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102399.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102399" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102399" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102399 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102399 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102399 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102399 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102399", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 965 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17089, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8adbe4ab9a565e10572db5ccb346461f2e58f3d9d6f4dd93b6792e2c8109b821" }, { "bytes": 7008, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "87fe441a66ca7e3bea5afee0f51d82eafdae8e907a7ea8e4e605f8b16b5908d7" }, { "bytes": 6702, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e37485613209dd913e46514fbebe92a91665403a2a0782f6cb311d7a3a092bee" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102399/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102399", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7679-b441-89cc68f802c4" } WuyMrDJImXpssOzppicfxGUtgw+DcZJgfwLAKjjbp/aOeUUtMq3fDGUWJapGntKFwyZgvbM0ei3O4M875uYFDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: WuyMrDJImXpssOzppicfxGUtgw+DcZJgfwLAKjjbp/aOeUUtMq3fDGUWJapGntKFwyZgvbM0ei3O4M875uYFDg== {"files":[{"bytes":16480,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ee29903d7f7ffffcbeef28abd9b47b07cfd7159deb47869d75880bc19447e976"},{"bytes":6466,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d52e6ab83d4928c33a30d3d8149d9be28d78b18f6ac19d924e7e8e765fa7fad9"},{"bytes":6163,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d371c77305e579c53e37b7a3ec709aadf115449b224f3ce73d4b84ead82ad400"},{"bytes":2725,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f9373ca0c6ece5f6a1ff5d6e36a76d7ce8d26f250d54594722bf599124fa15b8"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b8fa54c1f6b4dc4ececb9bb187a5ff9ea5903d53011cc018fface342a17ada2e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"368fab6901766db2f6ece18b8b78d18b85d1fe1057389428340bc5ec11c0dc88"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102400"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102400
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102400

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d371c77305e579c53e37b7a3ec709aadf115449b224f3ce73d4b84ead82ad400

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102400, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102400.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102400" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102400" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102400 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102400 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102400 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102400 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102400", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 879 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16480, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ee29903d7f7ffffcbeef28abd9b47b07cfd7159deb47869d75880bc19447e976" }, { "bytes": 6466, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d52e6ab83d4928c33a30d3d8149d9be28d78b18f6ac19d924e7e8e765fa7fad9" }, { "bytes": 6163, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d371c77305e579c53e37b7a3ec709aadf115449b224f3ce73d4b84ead82ad400" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102400/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102400", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-73fe-b125-d12e49e8c155" } x0lhhCOarle8yufJGShwz6Mb2E8vg0MdkAAoDu+Y7iwclAxgNvEY6rIFR5k1QV90snAMtmbnRmCQgWOXNmSrBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: x0lhhCOarle8yufJGShwz6Mb2E8vg0MdkAAoDu+Y7iwclAxgNvEY6rIFR5k1QV90snAMtmbnRmCQgWOXNmSrBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17288,"name":"index.html","sha256":"56fcb5546d7287f0bb7cb54533a4803d2936ec1cf7681b5a07658009461d2500"},{"bytes":7164,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"dcd4b7c898c799f5318e3262e189be7f7d78793d03408e5653605f45a7888f92"},{"bytes":6858,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9252987a2675cfab8bf630f0c65447d2163e3d2ac8e86378da0ea4b0debff569"},{"bytes":2734,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1d0719af701a437fd049282e1b70cb984be55096d275a464fc7d1190df063490"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8ac979f255303a4df9572fa24e96995c4700ade75cb18a80f4d1c5deefba946b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f02f0d48c72960bf13ec8207e4646d1eeb8e553c61a7ef57079468e304451840"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102401"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102401
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102401

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9252987a2675cfab8bf630f0c65447d2163e3d2ac8e86378da0ea4b0debff569

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102401, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102401.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102401" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102401" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102401 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102401 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102401 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102401 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102401", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 985 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17288, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "56fcb5546d7287f0bb7cb54533a4803d2936ec1cf7681b5a07658009461d2500" }, { "bytes": 7164, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "dcd4b7c898c799f5318e3262e189be7f7d78793d03408e5653605f45a7888f92" }, { "bytes": 6858, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9252987a2675cfab8bf630f0c65447d2163e3d2ac8e86378da0ea4b0debff569" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102401/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102401", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-78e2-8d6e-751dde10e32f" } SpHHsu2osPWK7cr0Jikj74wGP58v4SZN3QOBger2MZXoK0Y0R182uZ/ym3tnft0kEID/xSYp4lODYolLgiHQDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: SpHHsu2osPWK7cr0Jikj74wGP58v4SZN3QOBger2MZXoK0Y0R182uZ/ym3tnft0kEID/xSYp4lODYolLgiHQDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17035,"name":"index.html","sha256":"46420606909ca304fe03de75ebda5f5e9ab626f1dd6b97620b29fcfb9564e3c6"},{"bytes":6954,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bd2dbef884166c3aa0d9a24cdfb3e5aea0ad9bf51c777e56e32f89f7bcc9efc8"},{"bytes":6648,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2afb7c4d2a8ef85aca235011fc1bdbed51006074a079b21ab8866d8d35018ec3"},{"bytes":2734,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"53a9387fbd80d2e805a11844bba5b133d929e27ff804198b5a4959131d7dda69"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"76975ccfce6c40f2ecc7231b3271c9c8b8d394ed63ca85bc8725f04f449d2bf8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"46abab5ad5a52d8531e6b13c77bcbfa2b42597cbc42b1406ef62a062936c9e6b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102402"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102402
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102402

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2afb7c4d2a8ef85aca235011fc1bdbed51006074a079b21ab8866d8d35018ec3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102402, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102402.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102402" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102402" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102402 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102402 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102402 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102402 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102403

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d87bfb95ab9cc45051d5f87c24aa0169aabd9274e10f3b508dc408dc854e4371

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102403, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102403.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102403" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102403" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102403 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102403 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102403 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102403 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102404

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
4ee8d56bec1790fa2fa118e80e6487aa74020441cf0263f7c22457504894ecc7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102404, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102404.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102404" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102404" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102404 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102404 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102404 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102404 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102404", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17042, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5b0cae1ce9f8bc0a3045a2c90f4f7ca53d716a6abe43e0898146f19cee8ad94b" }, { "bytes": 6966, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "927cc24f43a84249858b1906b3ad993d7519e9e224b3f227abacf5688810cdf3" }, { "bytes": 6658, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4ee8d56bec1790fa2fa118e80e6487aa74020441cf0263f7c22457504894ecc7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102404/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102404", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-75d8-af45-7b7c9ae34503" } D6Lah3dyZn1UBaLWp2fJuytueSd5MkAjBfKQsHIhcICGSRLSMNHlFdXfR5ZBgaC+n2QCUL6GmYs/COm8VXLODA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: D6Lah3dyZn1UBaLWp2fJuytueSd5MkAjBfKQsHIhcICGSRLSMNHlFdXfR5ZBgaC+n2QCUL6GmYs/COm8VXLODA== {"files":[{"bytes":16789,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ac6f1b84060c93b21641f50ddf0da421bee676a31acaa3fe80ab9581f095994c"},{"bytes":6756,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"014e0a40a4f69600404985dd9e53054e476af8e7e72919193bcdbcb9495ea56f"},{"bytes":6448,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e3491555dcba1fa7571ff172cbb77291e31f60edd12fea6b2770f08851688db3"},{"bytes":2747,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"17c1ce28c6d22974e16f83dfb4509a39b5578d0211f46933560017c3dbc68c39"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1d2f888fbccdeda4de10fd36657cf442e31bbe85a0ba8c90f8758d82100e9592"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"dc728bcb96b191a21fef9406b38b2b0fd0b2503f48077dd87f0b1d95c093929e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102405"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102405
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102405

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e3491555dcba1fa7571ff172cbb77291e31f60edd12fea6b2770f08851688db3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102405, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102405.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102405" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102405" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102405 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102405 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102405 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102405 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102405", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 913 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16789, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ac6f1b84060c93b21641f50ddf0da421bee676a31acaa3fe80ab9581f095994c" }, { "bytes": 6756, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "014e0a40a4f69600404985dd9e53054e476af8e7e72919193bcdbcb9495ea56f" }, { "bytes": 6448, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e3491555dcba1fa7571ff172cbb77291e31f60edd12fea6b2770f08851688db3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102405/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102405", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-762f-8063-20c2fdcdffea" } UofVSwW+BdQoOAjr6Xfw6pO/fwA4i+U+p+BKhXKyv7Rj0cHzZrc1Qw091EMeoMPCE3iVOXN6TyCVsDfo+l7KAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: UofVSwW+BdQoOAjr6Xfw6pO/fwA4i+U+p+BKhXKyv7Rj0cHzZrc1Qw091EMeoMPCE3iVOXN6TyCVsDfo+l7KAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16234,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c94a36ab8ff2f40ca887cd2ea9a515562eab68847101abcafbea360ddf92daaa"},{"bytes":6268,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5001bd2d815bb81e99896f484a8da834b453892dd93463cd0dd765f7f31b70b3"},{"bytes":5963,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8e7ec182f2494f97a16235b0d923e8d340423dd5e7d9821d27ddb46eb336389e"},{"bytes":2738,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"28416ec805dff6045a8e9c192186fda18f904318dd9c59b6f2f5bb309b2aa22e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b354830b1051cd93c4b01934c944bf75356ae951edec913f7ef254a758f221af"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"82e9193b0f92c02d4f5fdab976f1e3b58df93864092aac7fb7cefd324bd07398"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102406"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102406
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102406

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
8e7ec182f2494f97a16235b0d923e8d340423dd5e7d9821d27ddb46eb336389e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102406, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102406.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102406" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102406" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102406 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102406 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102406 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102406 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102406", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16234, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c94a36ab8ff2f40ca887cd2ea9a515562eab68847101abcafbea360ddf92daaa" }, { "bytes": 6268, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5001bd2d815bb81e99896f484a8da834b453892dd93463cd0dd765f7f31b70b3" }, { "bytes": 5963, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8e7ec182f2494f97a16235b0d923e8d340423dd5e7d9821d27ddb46eb336389e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102406/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102406", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7d1f-9b7d-da982f4f4c06" } nxhiiFFyT3Mrw2SeRPbvgTUajDivruB6Iq6HNc3vpfp+3IgjZNbFQBc67QhI30hPDKN+O/I1+S7MF0mO0sxzBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: nxhiiFFyT3Mrw2SeRPbvgTUajDivruB6Iq6HNc3vpfp+3IgjZNbFQBc67QhI30hPDKN+O/I1+S7MF0mO0sxzBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17042,"name":"index.html","sha256":"514360a95732f687de93143e4da1c363938f23ee0fe3d8d56d7ac79ef8fe399b"},{"bytes":6966,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"701b1eef3316eb6f9ababf91f9a5b4f357fdf80c422bd432c7d2d197a8aaa9cd"},{"bytes":6658,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a9773bbb4a4e59a035630360cf7379e015eec9353ac6a742a21fcac55b78b3c9"},{"bytes":2747,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9ae84fc67c9fccb4af82ff7f83429812e186af557a6a3972177b41e6dca02687"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a44ff0f7fbd67fbc36466ed2d1bbc41ef63d4991e72254906b48f1f4b2a56a90"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"824b4176959e26f7a5b04dc5414247a046300abc2e5715e285cb00297e3a1d78"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102407"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102407
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102407

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a9773bbb4a4e59a035630360cf7379e015eec9353ac6a742a21fcac55b78b3c9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102407, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102407.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102407" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102407" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102407 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102407 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102407 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102407 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102408

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
f59de42a14d5c30b38cf3036d1aa15c93f94e997d28fa27bf3a2879a53ac2e84

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102408, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102408.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102408" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102408" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102408 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102408 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102408 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102408 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102409

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
c54e07d2c640689955d1c2699662bd472ad50dd7b410ba19bf0c8f4d84bf3eef

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102409, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102409.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102409" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102409" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102409 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102409 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102409 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102409 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102409", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16352, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "73b6b85e0534ea6edec5f82ef558f96e29ca62e2e706f6643071b40928bdc6d5" }, { "bytes": 6366, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4e9ef58627c75c4e675f033cf6ddd3ff4e59bffb34740cbdd96b8ab976aaa1e5" }, { "bytes": 6051, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c54e07d2c640689955d1c2699662bd472ad50dd7b410ba19bf0c8f4d84bf3eef" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102409/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102409", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7078-a3db-fe5cfadbe70f" } D5cVAccvw5Oi+OfvPy6F5PQFUiPJqhf46xI+FDQauV9vFQ7mmeD3e3kk4ep40a7N6GOK6u36FmQQ30h3vH5ZDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: D5cVAccvw5Oi+OfvPy6F5PQFUiPJqhf46xI+FDQauV9vFQ7mmeD3e3kk4ep40a7N6GOK6u36FmQQ30h3vH5ZDg== {"files":[{"bytes":17160,"name":"index.html","sha256":"bd5fc513a08c079e4efec02095cd0a5526d25ebab8e34cdf940f78271c10ef89"},{"bytes":7064,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ca4deed1c0299cb6e2ecb7ec87c1eb4044d745ceba5f70f32a708fa61b90c503"},{"bytes":6746,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"47eb2c3162d0318d2a0285829f5b27040de7b1fb1420ffc0540857fbd47ab3b0"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a36f7e20326e5ed5cd4df30bf5c32818302ac7fc4543cb1b42657efa77dfb2eb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a5890aed830d6287fad8a573b941347292c07b66dbff3c52a9de6ee00b65e31f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5506e8f384c76d063c8f7722eb64d5fba85c32e9e2062481dcafc01268911068"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102410"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102410
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102410

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
47eb2c3162d0318d2a0285829f5b27040de7b1fb1420ffc0540857fbd47ab3b0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102410, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102410.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102410" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102410" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102410 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102410 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102410 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102410 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102410", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17160, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "bd5fc513a08c079e4efec02095cd0a5526d25ebab8e34cdf940f78271c10ef89" }, { "bytes": 7064, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ca4deed1c0299cb6e2ecb7ec87c1eb4044d745ceba5f70f32a708fa61b90c503" }, { "bytes": 6746, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "47eb2c3162d0318d2a0285829f5b27040de7b1fb1420ffc0540857fbd47ab3b0" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102410/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102410", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7300-a01d-83cdc4d862a0" } 67U7edO/fV7ocCnNYvP82Q9Inz+MkNbcIROEjbQosXVhSKHSTlWz0kq5Yg9NCGMsk4bNxNk6YiI+AKMSZV3hCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 67U7edO/fV7ocCnNYvP82Q9Inz+MkNbcIROEjbQosXVhSKHSTlWz0kq5Yg9NCGMsk4bNxNk6YiI+AKMSZV3hCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16907,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ee3c100f1fcbf9787c748e01c76dc3960af5d1ec2b2f59095a4e3843229b35eb"},{"bytes":6854,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9fb99b17291445741bd833ee05735985fe959db361199aa2d464d47e7d164f5f"},{"bytes":6536,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7a18609d4cf03a9f9a8a911b3ded05c2026bd1d99e3a422ef3e6eaf19829dd5e"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ecb2c3d2dfcd3899047e0a61911e06d13f8605d9ea1ea719f9e9568fd0ded5bc"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9613b004ddc00aae3a1ff53d813c34bbd9f56707cc84f7d76ab616ac3b975314"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cc53e389bfe82445c96b4472afe6fd9e4353cd080cf013b0bdbd313a49e9d901"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102411"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102411
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102411

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7a18609d4cf03a9f9a8a911b3ded05c2026bd1d99e3a422ef3e6eaf19829dd5e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102411, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102411.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102411" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102411" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102411 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102411 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102411 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102411 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102412

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
49cab8efc3a0b4d7989b66ea8e23cefb74316341b5c7197b0f999b5df82b5cda

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102412, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102412.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102412" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102412" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102412 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102412 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102412 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102412 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102413

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
4d3e57cdc4e90d90c23348ed6420711279105aa6bda07a24aa8a2212c5b43d87

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102413, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102413.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102413" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102413" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102413 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102413 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102413 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102413 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102413", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17161, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a59601563cc55b5d2bc5a34953141772c438b615e4bf5c0309feed6d4a6112a6" }, { "bytes": 7065, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "27e6ca55f74ed753b21f6b73b50a81afbeb4d2a4104a7b0ae82eff76183d82b9" }, { "bytes": 6747, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4d3e57cdc4e90d90c23348ed6420711279105aa6bda07a24aa8a2212c5b43d87" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102413/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102413", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-74ce-90ac-c5a69b4e5bb4" } pDemu+0edKy8VtbVtUR4Dp5C3u01cMJBlAWYhnWaaqO/7YbN1eNZvJl9BHHIEhqXOFsRb4mNk2jAEG76tUptAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: pDemu+0edKy8VtbVtUR4Dp5C3u01cMJBlAWYhnWaaqO/7YbN1eNZvJl9BHHIEhqXOFsRb4mNk2jAEG76tUptAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16908,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f920f5563bd540f17667dfab2e98330354952410545db93acb9c141031d6ba42"},{"bytes":6855,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"81fb35e2ac1dcdbdc42d8046e4e42be5e6f00a3a856d059da603ee0003ca6801"},{"bytes":6537,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"80adff2fbe026b3cd055890644ac368424c5f2c6715f5e231aa39d8bfd5f1f4a"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"084aa60a189c8ad84ed9cae567e9403c0647ccd97d958757373e529d2b5568fb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e5c99a3305c431e6fd45b26aa8008c090145753ccb25a831b0f0dd6433d5c561"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cd5a372aac8c74ec9f57053f02d351720e779000af26c2ea305f672168256394"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102414"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102414
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102414

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
80adff2fbe026b3cd055890644ac368424c5f2c6715f5e231aa39d8bfd5f1f4a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102414, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102414.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102414" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102414" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102414 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102414 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102414 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102414 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102414", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16908, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f920f5563bd540f17667dfab2e98330354952410545db93acb9c141031d6ba42" }, { "bytes": 6855, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "81fb35e2ac1dcdbdc42d8046e4e42be5e6f00a3a856d059da603ee0003ca6801" }, { "bytes": 6537, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "80adff2fbe026b3cd055890644ac368424c5f2c6715f5e231aa39d8bfd5f1f4a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102414/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102414", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7afc-85a6-779e29294958" } yuN6TZJnZszR3c5Kfkk3nQZA8f+L2W+WuKNxfNae1G/5fJVFEfOj0pOumcjCvPOGH0X1U6CZw/IjlD5c1P/BDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: yuN6TZJnZszR3c5Kfkk3nQZA8f+L2W+WuKNxfNae1G/5fJVFEfOj0pOumcjCvPOGH0X1U6CZw/IjlD5c1P/BDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16357,"name":"index.html","sha256":"488e92e68a6c2bf6230ebb6a40c2037a9ce320da03e3722f58eb13db6942a026"},{"bytes":6371,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"fcd02aa3cc797365bcaa26e513516d9c54cfabc450508d20b6f595fd499d9ec7"},{"bytes":6056,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b3c27c124ea5dbed51dcdae8bc9bef8d0ce8d198dc518e3fa1acede56281e0e1"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5fdca0145ca4701cded05e3e7e6f0f6bf9fd323ac863626cc38b42255160da89"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"fbf6cb46f04a443f83d655148aeb98bd4f4854516f013c05991af96f5df7823b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"2424d4c19841295ab3a4a419de0ee1ced2ca2e8518318df4eb34696e937efe2e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102415"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102415
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102415

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b3c27c124ea5dbed51dcdae8bc9bef8d0ce8d198dc518e3fa1acede56281e0e1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102415, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102415.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102415" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102415" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102415 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102415 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102415 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102415 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102415", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16357, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "488e92e68a6c2bf6230ebb6a40c2037a9ce320da03e3722f58eb13db6942a026" }, { "bytes": 6371, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "fcd02aa3cc797365bcaa26e513516d9c54cfabc450508d20b6f595fd499d9ec7" }, { "bytes": 6056, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b3c27c124ea5dbed51dcdae8bc9bef8d0ce8d198dc518e3fa1acede56281e0e1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102415/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102415", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7130-804b-849afba8649f" } c57QWJPgamP56/HcSajVXZ1JljxahuP5vFBbedE4fkjcw5zV8CbRR9MQcEoVAWRwzPT8QbPwYyk8og8WNB1BCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: c57QWJPgamP56/HcSajVXZ1JljxahuP5vFBbedE4fkjcw5zV8CbRR9MQcEoVAWRwzPT8QbPwYyk8og8WNB1BCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17165,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f9f18bdbbdb9f4ba807134cf60336d97e3fb034b88b0540f3724fe8d412e6871"},{"bytes":7069,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"40ce5a510ac17da0578b4c120de6f739a6ede83bad80b57e781411c3cf0b78c8"},{"bytes":6751,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1c99a74c383c0135a1fd691965f81d4fa8f149bd2db781c9bf9584aaba6fa119"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"76cd1aa4b62b5f03953adf60cd8ddfc3982873a26a6216f29565d33cdcb5ce4c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"660ca6ba5ceeb5c243d2ce5040caa614a63b713244f38d0259626ccb60073506"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f383cd76c2eef1cfd231f58e8407fa81fb97aa3bba50e2efd3e84b812312c7a1"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102416"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102416
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102416

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
1c99a74c383c0135a1fd691965f81d4fa8f149bd2db781c9bf9584aaba6fa119

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102416, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102416.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102416" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102416" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102416 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102416 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102416 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102416 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102416", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17165, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f9f18bdbbdb9f4ba807134cf60336d97e3fb034b88b0540f3724fe8d412e6871" }, { "bytes": 7069, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "40ce5a510ac17da0578b4c120de6f739a6ede83bad80b57e781411c3cf0b78c8" }, { "bytes": 6751, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1c99a74c383c0135a1fd691965f81d4fa8f149bd2db781c9bf9584aaba6fa119" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102416/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102416", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7a8f-93b9-61ae5743602d" } nI9TxByKGOpXsgchCSPxOR7krEBjfz6xKhV1Brwu/nR0Gtu4U1yXwYjAlLz0u2mWld17+3/gphaRDhW6JJ/4DQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: nI9TxByKGOpXsgchCSPxOR7krEBjfz6xKhV1Brwu/nR0Gtu4U1yXwYjAlLz0u2mWld17+3/gphaRDhW6JJ/4DQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16912,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3b6e86b34a6c4bbba4c13bb6784125dbfd931af9bd810f616c1462f7356b359e"},{"bytes":6859,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"8fb6778543c2be52480b571df9bf595530c1e47fb4e2b3f4028b3457918bc1f3"},{"bytes":6541,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1376c3fff580a82beb83794a54d80ac05b1fd7bd4e778cad1a77f99d49affa59"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b77ec5b5c66a80e9a6ab0a1c036ac4180d413c6e2aa871ba41df94111c987cb6"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d55b6fc624a69da1385142e2c64ed18bd9614eec2a46dde903161042ee1d60b8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f3e3eb03ce086793fa6f5710ca1b4b412f875463c0cc15b7744922d43bce057f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102417"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102417
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102417

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
1376c3fff580a82beb83794a54d80ac05b1fd7bd4e778cad1a77f99d49affa59

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102417, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102417.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102417" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102417" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102417 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102417 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102417 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102417 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102418

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
0807c0420cc691fc252a46aa1ed3a2e59aeccde7171d97833f678e60f78b4742

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102418, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102418.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102418" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102418" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102418 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102418 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102418 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102418 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102419

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
13f73fc198e1bbb2568252a1dc1b018b6880a725235c257627682bd7145e02c3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102419, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102419.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102419" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102419" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102419 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102419 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102419 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102419 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102419", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1000 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17354, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8b86bf53b417b81ef65e6c9157ca14572a8390fd7ba3919127c5245497b2e10a" }, { "bytes": 7226, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "352d22d1d44ed5c7701fc4e1d288a1a33a0edde23f66a302bce633cc05112e69" }, { "bytes": 6918, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "13f73fc198e1bbb2568252a1dc1b018b6880a725235c257627682bd7145e02c3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102419/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102419", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7338-8d0f-55fdbf84731f" } iw6WbZjteXqLyRvdw6fVVijQ/thP9sg26tVCK9wXgu0RQCXBzzS9jaDVpA90anxD8RNmrWYn+WHeZcw8VfzTCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: iw6WbZjteXqLyRvdw6fVVijQ/thP9sg26tVCK9wXgu0RQCXBzzS9jaDVpA90anxD8RNmrWYn+WHeZcw8VfzTCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17101,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7c6f6978855be5856b2482fc4a7e25add3deebeff794a0484ee5ebaffc9c73ab"},{"bytes":7016,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"28558bb7677d4491a43bfd724745eb8f4884d5ca29fc8fe63cf02f49aa5979e5"},{"bytes":6708,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"163daf225eb800e095583076c8ab57a7fce0bd0de25061bafa9e88664146b250"},{"bytes":2736,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ae818bdf8621adb6189287f980659d9d6fc76e79075f1ebbb29fec05aecd2028"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0996cf10f8c0adc6906bb33af923dbe0d3213cdeb101040c5f7108d77f34eb3a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3164c09216c2a84f7e76356101705b7ba0473e6d0a19b10d7163421aed3add85"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102420"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102420
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102420

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
163daf225eb800e095583076c8ab57a7fce0bd0de25061bafa9e88664146b250

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102420, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102420.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102420" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102420" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102420 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102420 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102420 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102420 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102420", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 965 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17101, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7c6f6978855be5856b2482fc4a7e25add3deebeff794a0484ee5ebaffc9c73ab" }, { "bytes": 7016, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "28558bb7677d4491a43bfd724745eb8f4884d5ca29fc8fe63cf02f49aa5979e5" }, { "bytes": 6708, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "163daf225eb800e095583076c8ab57a7fce0bd0de25061bafa9e88664146b250" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102420/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102420", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7e6a-b7a4-6c5ccdad7870" } yfdIj4diK82sUhO9hSviepBvYFp8Eja4fYjBPa2tbZVPFKHgxHVh1mlMQOIFAX2ozoyC5CDAWsmBZF9AYEbtAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: yfdIj4diK82sUhO9hSviepBvYFp8Eja4fYjBPa2tbZVPFKHgxHVh1mlMQOIFAX2ozoyC5CDAWsmBZF9AYEbtAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16492,"name":"index.html","sha256":"8a843aee1d012c50c0587c80497e831773fbd86a05abe49be6877bd955ef7e73"},{"bytes":6474,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"38f7691dff8a033b3bff739c7cb55c38afb8bc536b872bbf954f5dfec0812010"},{"bytes":6169,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b613f25c96f2be6859f3cd4e1b4070a574b689741615f7132471d8f0dfd6e69f"},{"bytes":2727,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"050caf38a80d6e8c02882bfbd5e40e3176bb0186b1c456e858e3668420ce4cc3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"799b50a4b02cdb3b8b8b1095f18b3f3d018b8a548c3db222d82b0bf1f7cef902"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6830da38b446105402b6ac37f01e7bd33e07f82aba930409214c5108efb1a4d8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102421"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102421
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102421

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b613f25c96f2be6859f3cd4e1b4070a574b689741615f7132471d8f0dfd6e69f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102421, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102421.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102421" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102421" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102421 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102421 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102421 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102421 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102421", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 879 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16492, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8a843aee1d012c50c0587c80497e831773fbd86a05abe49be6877bd955ef7e73" }, { "bytes": 6474, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "38f7691dff8a033b3bff739c7cb55c38afb8bc536b872bbf954f5dfec0812010" }, { "bytes": 6169, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b613f25c96f2be6859f3cd4e1b4070a574b689741615f7132471d8f0dfd6e69f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102421/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102421", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7332-b470-bb3aee9bd014" } KrCMauoRU+I13RCOlpU/7lRGGfi6QoOGN0LKb8gnI0HxKEyDA8lYSCmeJBxE0idWp03GoyD7x6PVuzA6Uz9cDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: KrCMauoRU+I13RCOlpU/7lRGGfi6QoOGN0LKb8gnI0HxKEyDA8lYSCmeJBxE0idWp03GoyD7x6PVuzA6Uz9cDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17300,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9cfc53d261dd239bea3571ef24a00a952f4d44259356537c45eb963fa2a6984a"},{"bytes":7172,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"db49fd35df8ad4840eecb36e898785fe75561fa91da34f6de1f9ee01c2494293"},{"bytes":6864,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bd075c62915e5768d2e47a26ebde38d299d0bbdb9be1ca10254a7e631c498833"},{"bytes":2736,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"bb42c432c67695a3963f2e41c97939c5bf876a1553b2b7d30a5adac98e92dc92"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c30cb60869b3f0bb4ddfa07835382bdd4a94961aaa43592144dfc1e4c7f866a4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"59ff7066c5a14ca92b812ae23f0ec81d189fffd65c782c8d3254c5516ce77a0e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102422"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102422
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102422

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bd075c62915e5768d2e47a26ebde38d299d0bbdb9be1ca10254a7e631c498833

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102422, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102422.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102422" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102422" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102422 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102422 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102422 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102422 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102423

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
28abb097aa5a88c9ef632ec338ff880f836556454b71480974624c7e7d28d7ad

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102423, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102423.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102423" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102423" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102423 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102423 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102423 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102423 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102423", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 950 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17047, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5ed7e942f5089856d0651cd53c4fc4a3b7ffd2a181fa67502d07089e8ec05166" }, { "bytes": 6962, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cb15f3ce2ba587cbb44ab60f6d64657789a09f925c4eb32c40fd6cefc3d71818" }, { "bytes": 6654, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "28abb097aa5a88c9ef632ec338ff880f836556454b71480974624c7e7d28d7ad" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102423/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102423", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7fa8-a205-59790290114b" } DY1prjDjYBVYBQGcxB7pKFZOwKzWHT+xd4W2FJD2dInHhwK7zmwtHjF4q9GYh/q/TS6af/bCgTgSDH1KvFcCAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DY1prjDjYBVYBQGcxB7pKFZOwKzWHT+xd4W2FJD2dInHhwK7zmwtHjF4q9GYh/q/TS6af/bCgTgSDH1KvFcCAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16246,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a74677d98a3a7a6763cde2c664ffd99c36d5ae9d55a6ce042f7edab76ffcba2f"},{"bytes":6276,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b4dbec1c30e8afae36e5eb158b601f0984d7b3c74c9634ba45692563b0f19de5"},{"bytes":5969,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2a4a52b755d644eeb16174e1a538c99518c9d219c4ee8aaed7d7f6209d6b4af6"},{"bytes":2740,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"feebc7851a798d0ea53c6bc6bcec67c4c058448730c7f39a906241444630358d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"887ecf6e48e98be6cef77f6fbf517bc2dbefe67d1c9b41e4e69e55a8126222f9"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"303b197691ac0231e9ebf0cf84a749e70c633ffffa2d85c652bbf8ce8947873d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102424"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102424
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102424

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2a4a52b755d644eeb16174e1a538c99518c9d219c4ee8aaed7d7f6209d6b4af6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102424, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102424.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102424" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102424" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102424 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102424 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102424 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102424 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102424", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16246, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a74677d98a3a7a6763cde2c664ffd99c36d5ae9d55a6ce042f7edab76ffcba2f" }, { "bytes": 6276, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b4dbec1c30e8afae36e5eb158b601f0984d7b3c74c9634ba45692563b0f19de5" }, { "bytes": 5969, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2a4a52b755d644eeb16174e1a538c99518c9d219c4ee8aaed7d7f6209d6b4af6" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102424/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102424", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-710f-886f-bbcb4b150532" } 45gtub9EkNv3uxUBu8T0XwKjVKTG5srhCriY3ed4q2CwO3nJih1qk0VEFLYNOybOao53KXsrqd6MbnOWR0VeCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 45gtub9EkNv3uxUBu8T0XwKjVKTG5srhCriY3ed4q2CwO3nJih1qk0VEFLYNOybOao53KXsrqd6MbnOWR0VeCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17054,"name":"index.html","sha256":"da4a6f5ae45160ed7fd2510e3b416eaf89f8330c30ea95fc8db3a5cdd03bf036"},{"bytes":6974,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"90f7004ab9d4df7e98269c907cae0c7e8e86ca6ac942f10e1e5c20630bc93601"},{"bytes":6664,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b40978ae08ffe1fba31f0903bd87ea7ca3646dcdaa53ada83744b50c3cfac4b1"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7693aefdcacc5557214fc3b654d18ef6628ca1809e408c2140ad85f8451a30bb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2cf37ddad0e3c3f3d28acecb8cfb972f8a87744ea02dd87105c18fd36cc9ecc8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e19dbeb77df777d91da5ea9a84981b8d35b20a588e4b7351e70b5ae718b80ef5"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102425"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102425
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102425

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b40978ae08ffe1fba31f0903bd87ea7ca3646dcdaa53ada83744b50c3cfac4b1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102425, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102425.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102425" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102425" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102425 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102425 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102425 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102425 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102425", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17054, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "da4a6f5ae45160ed7fd2510e3b416eaf89f8330c30ea95fc8db3a5cdd03bf036" }, { "bytes": 6974, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "90f7004ab9d4df7e98269c907cae0c7e8e86ca6ac942f10e1e5c20630bc93601" }, { "bytes": 6664, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b40978ae08ffe1fba31f0903bd87ea7ca3646dcdaa53ada83744b50c3cfac4b1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102425/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102425", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7354-bbe3-b4b662af6ff7" } 1Xvl3N7E0ONWwi7+JzEbOJOGjoP7jdjvs20LM2jywbxV3rUlWUXVP1rV/JyqSHX/25KvL8OTQKjDvELlJyfHCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 1Xvl3N7E0ONWwi7+JzEbOJOGjoP7jdjvs20LM2jywbxV3rUlWUXVP1rV/JyqSHX/25KvL8OTQKjDvELlJyfHCA== {"files":[{"bytes":16801,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9aa6a40557bf29afd7ef7b842db3bfc0355302783f1617e4d02bda18ce8d567e"},{"bytes":6764,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f265b31a3d21027a43c2ea7a78e46bb7d7d25e78de346eecc0fbb1e164e97454"},{"bytes":6454,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3bc8e27e2a375998a1091a3576dbced8fbe9f413efcb69f57b2cecfe82d087d2"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8d47ce97727e9349c98bc6d05fcb57a498217a51e19d88112de5fe5c01e46ef5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9ffcc10c926e0991edaa68014a109e681b6c71a90e703f5c7fe9aface6712f02"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3a7ee66377d2e9cc2e6b681566ffb562012e77f3970ba22b00eb4416f2423873"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102426"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102426
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102426

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3bc8e27e2a375998a1091a3576dbced8fbe9f413efcb69f57b2cecfe82d087d2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102426, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102426.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102426" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102426" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102426 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102426 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102426 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102426 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102427

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2fe0b60bd516fb7328664d3fd7d7016cdc43cdb14051234e9daf7ba3b177ab4c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102427, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102427.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102427" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102427" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102427 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102427 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102427 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102427 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102428

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
0796be0c4674c1298fc0fe9706a4d8f4f55600c38f277ae4d39fb241db559c31

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102428, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102428.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102428" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102428" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102428 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102428 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102428 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102428 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102428", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17054, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1ea39202f6d13c76a83c5b9e696a7d2df9dd767ce5d6eb19a3d1d8890e9e4252" }, { "bytes": 6974, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "15acdd6cc5003a97722cc7f86820442ce910209d5fd5c558e77ef5156f5e1dab" }, { "bytes": 6664, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0796be0c4674c1298fc0fe9706a4d8f4f55600c38f277ae4d39fb241db559c31" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102428/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102428", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-72f5-9954-383b7b93c987" } N32VEligNmUIXoOTdhOB7iQ5AITehlWqa6/Yq6CFZWKsTnFGe7fYMlGLtlkgSD8DSIFEKVhi/LgjYSbMVXrSBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: N32VEligNmUIXoOTdhOB7iQ5AITehlWqa6/Yq6CFZWKsTnFGe7fYMlGLtlkgSD8DSIFEKVhi/LgjYSbMVXrSBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16801,"name":"index.html","sha256":"535ab5e6555155bef2c9e7d7a2bd031da68b90d1366e320dc1865a681e3be6c6"},{"bytes":6764,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d7605d0b41b52ff8e0cd867273d5b45cbca83c6f4090221d32c993f5ffb80673"},{"bytes":6454,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9d4bac54790c2fb281f4fa19a13e00650829e6b817f16ed213115d424e1b1823"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"555e032d857a4a9bf54b65eb6a3227cb0790eb0c4124ebb34c22fce8c1c82e5a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b0578973f3aaeb4e724ae15e2f010f53b18e12f0fdccbc6d112cb10c786494ad"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a70ad11eb755a607c4b52b1397cfc9a294a106bf475f838a25be5242f06464de"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102429"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102429
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102429

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9d4bac54790c2fb281f4fa19a13e00650829e6b817f16ed213115d424e1b1823

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102429, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102429.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102429" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102429" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102429 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102429 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102429 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102429 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102429", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 913 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16801, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "535ab5e6555155bef2c9e7d7a2bd031da68b90d1366e320dc1865a681e3be6c6" }, { "bytes": 6764, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d7605d0b41b52ff8e0cd867273d5b45cbca83c6f4090221d32c993f5ffb80673" }, { "bytes": 6454, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9d4bac54790c2fb281f4fa19a13e00650829e6b817f16ed213115d424e1b1823" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102429/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102429", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7401-ba22-61745474e444" } C8bI1995FA6TFUStClAuaDXjUJ7rYYtulNIS9ZTjr47yg3t4dFp20xeb6N+muGdkeQCEBQNJCkh8IN8BqvGsAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: C8bI1995FA6TFUStClAuaDXjUJ7rYYtulNIS9ZTjr47yg3t4dFp20xeb6N+muGdkeQCEBQNJCkh8IN8BqvGsAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16243,"name":"index.html","sha256":"86cecba6c6b9cce14804f401e9a6ba7457d99b281e8537f8007cb00c2d055972"},{"bytes":6330,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"74a0d550af48ba398e91d83bae22e8cf5b7400fbd0df1f37044c40927a8a4e49"},{"bytes":5991,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"862761d29ca0d7b9c770a65cbeb05c3f9dffc9261a81880fe21f7c5182020242"},{"bytes":2804,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fa692982c3aab7f127f0f4c1e6892d276a8948fb80c73421b803e49406a255fc"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8a87be4f6432d82b60e5bdb45dcc851eb4603aa6a49773a526eaea8ea0391380"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"75279cad913d94fada843fba2463f347f527199ced791653415ec85cd776794b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102430"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102430
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102430

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
862761d29ca0d7b9c770a65cbeb05c3f9dffc9261a81880fe21f7c5182020242

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102430, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102430.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102430" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102430" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102430 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102430 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102430 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102430 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102430", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16243, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "86cecba6c6b9cce14804f401e9a6ba7457d99b281e8537f8007cb00c2d055972" }, { "bytes": 6330, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "74a0d550af48ba398e91d83bae22e8cf5b7400fbd0df1f37044c40927a8a4e49" }, { "bytes": 5991, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "862761d29ca0d7b9c770a65cbeb05c3f9dffc9261a81880fe21f7c5182020242" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102430/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102430", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-735c-aab4-63f4c3d5148c" } QNMgyttM5hIM4aZ+NaRQY7Mxg+UI4enPnnI/LiwnNjblVbXRyohK8gGuVBmBHLr2/0q8HODHiAsz89F5A4FjAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: QNMgyttM5hIM4aZ+NaRQY7Mxg+UI4enPnnI/LiwnNjblVbXRyohK8gGuVBmBHLr2/0q8HODHiAsz89F5A4FjAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17045,"name":"index.html","sha256":"10aaf3235551b4ad76fdf66c55d4cd44c4af581a1dc5b43524cc2a91dab6ff5a"},{"bytes":7022,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e27009dfd919dedb138afed3a08d6068160821823977e934dd1b36cb6473f111"},{"bytes":6680,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ba0aff15261f9ac225db9b10bd34732fb727409543cb4c64ed8f14fc788d82f0"},{"bytes":2813,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"32c4a56aeb7b67f2ae229bcbfb575b9f6c965fa2a0aa0c09cd22c43fdaa7350e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"5e7e1562ce409a0a1c40e751858d2037e368bcde28cb3826a4487a8f6c6679c5"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"442e8f7e8555c97f99eebf1f100a3afb908c648e4c0780db0492f751045064c0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102431"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102431
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102431

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
ba0aff15261f9ac225db9b10bd34732fb727409543cb4c64ed8f14fc788d82f0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102431, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102431.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102431" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102431" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102431 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102431 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102431 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102431 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102432

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
70dc381ee9db6e512e6270874eabd0147d591ee0b60bfd4013ecdc19f9d0f447

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102432, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102432.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102432" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102432" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102432 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102432 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102432 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102432 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102432", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16792, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "22ad96e96ecbda36c403bef162ca6ad3d870207b2698b2a418803d6ca870aa11" }, { "bytes": 6812, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7f7440a5130a80c91ea0da0729843a1cd7fcffc5a7193eab48d62ecf160bc81c" }, { "bytes": 6470, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "70dc381ee9db6e512e6270874eabd0147d591ee0b60bfd4013ecdc19f9d0f447" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102432/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102432", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7a32-a232-cb670ad97bd7" } GYBtCrg3UB32uWiziGH/4Szob7mvlPlijHtdzR4PjaKSsoyyhCgPbbjFfbMuaGwluWKKGk+aXwyClZEi963iBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: GYBtCrg3UB32uWiziGH/4Szob7mvlPlijHtdzR4PjaKSsoyyhCgPbbjFfbMuaGwluWKKGk+aXwyClZEi963iBg== {"files":[{"bytes":16244,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a51cd69ab12d54e3377e39691b33a83681ca2aafce18d3ff5604e2a53fba0b6e"},{"bytes":6331,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"8e6665712fbd988e9e02c64ac93c5697e713d4f38f9137822df87a10cfb8f6c0"},{"bytes":5992,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"24458784bc541586b48730777da30daba47dc6984d0d46a2be260cd2bb7908c1"},{"bytes":2804,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2c02fcca15b2316e2533646537770c2d0e21617253d8f238548b1c8ebb6a6024"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a40bcbda975e2ad4bd42c057dab1b29c1a5f1a647cdc1441cefc1744130b6d96"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"edbd11c80c909aee9df517f1e0562bf10fc1c19c5fd71f60b9379cfbbeac686b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102433"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102433
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102433

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
24458784bc541586b48730777da30daba47dc6984d0d46a2be260cd2bb7908c1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102433, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102433.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102433" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102433" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102433 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102433 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102433 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102433 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102433", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16244, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a51cd69ab12d54e3377e39691b33a83681ca2aafce18d3ff5604e2a53fba0b6e" }, { "bytes": 6331, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "8e6665712fbd988e9e02c64ac93c5697e713d4f38f9137822df87a10cfb8f6c0" }, { "bytes": 5992, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "24458784bc541586b48730777da30daba47dc6984d0d46a2be260cd2bb7908c1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102433/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102433", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7e00-9637-b190118c2e12" } s7xN/GtTaeGuw80AB7MBoKjfZroQPhi7+H9xCBN+e0U0sOtuxtVO40nKhPBeojnw5t2rLmE2C+5aRTFvGwblAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: s7xN/GtTaeGuw80AB7MBoKjfZroQPhi7+H9xCBN+e0U0sOtuxtVO40nKhPBeojnw5t2rLmE2C+5aRTFvGwblAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17046,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2af4a106f3d88b8841cd4ff20a1b7311a2116f710163a669eb8e5712d5c4cabb"},{"bytes":7023,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1595e913477ee9911416519e47bcfc7c80435a007de91309b567857ae11d1d8b"},{"bytes":6681,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d46826402d203e9c0b698b4f2a92b5a38a7a4fdf1d2132fc15ad54675b880853"},{"bytes":2813,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3d0db83db962596fb3a2f6f9c30c4b6bfba6f7d7e42dd14715e6b547bfd32fd6"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"84884b2fc020bd0bb92368c005ea9c02f77600085dfbbcce3e2b838498ef9737"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c38e2c9eec2a491e49b256c0b1acd73dfe5672510e7091d12e8eddceb5282464"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102434"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102434
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102434

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
d46826402d203e9c0b698b4f2a92b5a38a7a4fdf1d2132fc15ad54675b880853

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102434, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102434.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102434" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102434" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102434 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102434 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102434 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102434 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102434", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17046, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2af4a106f3d88b8841cd4ff20a1b7311a2116f710163a669eb8e5712d5c4cabb" }, { "bytes": 7023, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1595e913477ee9911416519e47bcfc7c80435a007de91309b567857ae11d1d8b" }, { "bytes": 6681, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d46826402d203e9c0b698b4f2a92b5a38a7a4fdf1d2132fc15ad54675b880853" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102434/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102434", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-75bd-936c-5f4a463fcfa8" } YZchCPMIbEl9LDjy350JwVyaiojAzkj2O/t2Ulz/bLOj892IujLB+JWczjgj6/VtfeJVdNK+9rqcG8RuAzL8AA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: YZchCPMIbEl9LDjy350JwVyaiojAzkj2O/t2Ulz/bLOj892IujLB+JWczjgj6/VtfeJVdNK+9rqcG8RuAzL8AA== {"files":[{"bytes":16793,"name":"index.html","sha256":"54412447301ef1df3526c5f62e7884ffde1e88fad1ab40f4e94840481849d816"},{"bytes":6813,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5ff33997df3323d61b4c5e61d1b7673bab018919136c03089a041c71e55877cb"},{"bytes":6471,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5ebdd0fa3b87d40d4f1b2aba6c741f88901d5e789ce6c3a0f6f4bbfe0de5a94d"},{"bytes":2813,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d54e5abd7517f3c2f219430a92a12b13241de08e3bc7542ec693bbaa463e0653"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f16bf82a9b7ce77bd08a2566078099a7c276895afd80bf5dd4b686942a014f65"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"05576858337d009f969d7d177c2886709b6a9d07496b7882e2d5dd1e7a9c4e09"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102435"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102435
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102435

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
5ebdd0fa3b87d40d4f1b2aba6c741f88901d5e789ce6c3a0f6f4bbfe0de5a94d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102435, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102435.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102435" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102435" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102435 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102435 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102435 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102435 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102435", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16793, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "54412447301ef1df3526c5f62e7884ffde1e88fad1ab40f4e94840481849d816" }, { "bytes": 6813, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5ff33997df3323d61b4c5e61d1b7673bab018919136c03089a041c71e55877cb" }, { "bytes": 6471, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "5ebdd0fa3b87d40d4f1b2aba6c741f88901d5e789ce6c3a0f6f4bbfe0de5a94d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102435/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102435", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7439-a3e8-64dfa45ca086" } k24p0HgKY2DN6bbqcsRonLCS0iRJX9gz99TJAnCXLHpimU+XqlHq+gTdBAHM7tEHsMXCkp0eK4LZRU2q+/LnCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: k24p0HgKY2DN6bbqcsRonLCS0iRJX9gz99TJAnCXLHpimU+XqlHq+gTdBAHM7tEHsMXCkp0eK4LZRU2q+/LnCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16248,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4130344853ee95d755b4aef64879f502e2ec5daf0041fe715f8bcc365bb82048"},{"bytes":6335,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5a97c9ea0927dfd516f659436fb16b48c2c89286fc6ef9f747d34a9bf513910a"},{"bytes":5996,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0e575b75d7959241e6482630d86c27ad78d16f58b7ec02af4043439279d7550f"},{"bytes":2804,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"bfc69f6e18fb777427e973fb14d66ae01de31e44d8952926eb983758798f946b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3c37b65b9d82655b792503174e8fd9e7f977288d4abb77a9aa9d84564a397a4f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3a362912d922d615e33c75a6055a6c91aa11f1cb062748c41bd2aab1708fe78f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102436"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102436
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102436

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
0e575b75d7959241e6482630d86c27ad78d16f58b7ec02af4043439279d7550f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102436, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102436.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102436" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102436" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102436 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102436 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102436 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102436 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102436", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16248, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4130344853ee95d755b4aef64879f502e2ec5daf0041fe715f8bcc365bb82048" }, { "bytes": 6335, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5a97c9ea0927dfd516f659436fb16b48c2c89286fc6ef9f747d34a9bf513910a" }, { "bytes": 5996, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0e575b75d7959241e6482630d86c27ad78d16f58b7ec02af4043439279d7550f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102436/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102436", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-767d-a62d-1a497f8bbb12" } Ax7waD+eLVPbT8F4OV3O1JkRBdgDhjp9Wm5M+EdnvA2eHvZhdIH0ALEnao3hsKdizQbj0kFoEciwAsrF1zafBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Ax7waD+eLVPbT8F4OV3O1JkRBdgDhjp9Wm5M+EdnvA2eHvZhdIH0ALEnao3hsKdizQbj0kFoEciwAsrF1zafBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17050,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0d67050b7000717c7252c12d74a7e240215a3dea5ee3e022f48e75fe222ebb84"},{"bytes":7027,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"8c76b38cf833d1988f6b4cde2a25f3e47dd1086fb2390c0f80900252b00ef7be"},{"bytes":6685,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9c2a92022c5aa67731b28c5a56bc9916ddaa2dec3bf2ff0b6dad65b9ad4ec437"},{"bytes":2813,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b7d200fb58b80b6ff1ca0738c7602ac07a2d621a8e2a6f2d2ad18ee109ea1abb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"128ed004bcde44d73e88f3df330dfa90ae465b08ce616f6dc9a8133753d37e37"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b2a93f7e19460c82f8a80551eabd9208889b25ec387dabc3d3f90f28cf06b8b8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102437"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102437
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102437

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
9c2a92022c5aa67731b28c5a56bc9916ddaa2dec3bf2ff0b6dad65b9ad4ec437

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102437, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102437.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102437" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102437" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102437 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102437 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102437 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102437 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102437", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17050, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0d67050b7000717c7252c12d74a7e240215a3dea5ee3e022f48e75fe222ebb84" }, { "bytes": 7027, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "8c76b38cf833d1988f6b4cde2a25f3e47dd1086fb2390c0f80900252b00ef7be" }, { "bytes": 6685, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9c2a92022c5aa67731b28c5a56bc9916ddaa2dec3bf2ff0b6dad65b9ad4ec437" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102437/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102437", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7774-b21b-c4dddc556436" } gyx0mDua6Q1IJeXUYGo7WP9AHujE8LQcbWmTEgDqTLbcbL9IjVzHXOMpCvAV9q+4pYUXxERUhtCgtGyXU5pICA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: gyx0mDua6Q1IJeXUYGo7WP9AHujE8LQcbWmTEgDqTLbcbL9IjVzHXOMpCvAV9q+4pYUXxERUhtCgtGyXU5pICA== {"files":[{"bytes":16797,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a644b0285b9446e85a01712fa86688d6ef867015e8ae97a629dbac466fcf7e96"},{"bytes":6817,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"97e0626e150ca5405e45ac70c755da6632c73736a2fcbe3e81cfe13f67a365d2"},{"bytes":6475,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9a4cd59d67d673afa5b8014bf7cd56c4f8785df239a8f6e300a0ef8bd4389361"},{"bytes":2813,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2e314ec538da7e2f4a43edbed8d70c191e02224b0a1049d9f50aaade37f766ba"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c53bef7885ae6f63b3b3ed7c2992c4769ed6835b9ee50167bd71a80427706c9c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d2ab112c9dd7a7a7f1e9a840ec1c3bc0b26dd7244831d16f07678a97e8eb0549"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102438"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102438
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102438

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
9a4cd59d67d673afa5b8014bf7cd56c4f8785df239a8f6e300a0ef8bd4389361

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102438, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102438.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102438" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102438" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102438 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102438 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102438 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102438 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102438", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16797, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a644b0285b9446e85a01712fa86688d6ef867015e8ae97a629dbac466fcf7e96" }, { "bytes": 6817, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "97e0626e150ca5405e45ac70c755da6632c73736a2fcbe3e81cfe13f67a365d2" }, { "bytes": 6475, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9a4cd59d67d673afa5b8014bf7cd56c4f8785df239a8f6e300a0ef8bd4389361" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102438/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102438", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7ce5-82a5-0e5d96ab787a" } /o18DUU7yu/WSc0TsIxubRCt7a7hFM6DwEU57WX8BAmQ+g/Zn+mDgPwz32+EycCAtdVsRG4HmxWDwyWZhs7aCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: /o18DUU7yu/WSc0TsIxubRCt7a7hFM6DwEU57WX8BAmQ+g/Zn+mDgPwz32+EycCAtdVsRG4HmxWDwyWZhs7aCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16437,"name":"index.html","sha256":"757e9f4697e98e7be563ad47db3d1ae0ab5b6c7579a506710ea5055c32fb7b52"},{"bytes":6492,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"731235ef389fe976d99b89cbe93ace1dbf4afab95fe72a7fb8cf132396af81e9"},{"bytes":6163,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cf6621799ece1985ca80c3b20a9d52d5edb6a3a1f746b44887db82bef12c626e"},{"bytes":2783,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"32a5c186f032927ad8e755bc91ae512a86aee3edd40c309dc0c1dce4686d686c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a08a6e5c06eb6212882080c20f60d8576684e6c35d124bd7d28eeceb17f6ede7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6ad0ac94c71c501528129e270f5aa4df1f2fcafd66dc14f8bdfa643657f4a562"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102439"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102439
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102439

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
cf6621799ece1985ca80c3b20a9d52d5edb6a3a1f746b44887db82bef12c626e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102439, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102439.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102439" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102439" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102439 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102439 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102439 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102439 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102439", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 877 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16437, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "757e9f4697e98e7be563ad47db3d1ae0ab5b6c7579a506710ea5055c32fb7b52" }, { "bytes": 6492, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "731235ef389fe976d99b89cbe93ace1dbf4afab95fe72a7fb8cf132396af81e9" }, { "bytes": 6163, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cf6621799ece1985ca80c3b20a9d52d5edb6a3a1f746b44887db82bef12c626e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102439/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102439", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7c4e-963e-a894e8eb19fd" } otZW4NasbT7MRdqIDI62U93HpSLqUQQFAZ8cqRqvz3lI0cEorB2DzS0q5GxAb3FOKYidkyabBVCc0APlMEgzBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: otZW4NasbT7MRdqIDI62U93HpSLqUQQFAZ8cqRqvz3lI0cEorB2DzS0q5GxAb3FOKYidkyabBVCc0APlMEgzBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17239,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d6895b7f0b52287abaf88f93d2295a004778b7cffeebc92b9902c8e50a344aff"},{"bytes":7184,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6c08f193dc06c0db11996a83290ce7e86b331283e923666a88e9b56637c184f0"},{"bytes":6852,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"60b862f4b9794dd3af796efc4fbea77c3492cc99e2197584155b82433abce296"},{"bytes":2792,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"80590799b9d7ce7baead52dd489b4e2c4f2f60420d73fe362d891ef90508d11a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3d01a9f7b7cecf665c53a649434aed159d2650d445756abbe5b9f91a16cec841"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"500e8c2a6ba963cb2072862840b5713ea010938928ed96f9ff6d877dce26afca"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102440"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102440
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102440

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
60b862f4b9794dd3af796efc4fbea77c3492cc99e2197584155b82433abce296

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102440, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102440.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102440" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102440" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102440 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102440 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102440 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102440 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102440", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 983 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17239, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d6895b7f0b52287abaf88f93d2295a004778b7cffeebc92b9902c8e50a344aff" }, { "bytes": 7184, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6c08f193dc06c0db11996a83290ce7e86b331283e923666a88e9b56637c184f0" }, { "bytes": 6852, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "60b862f4b9794dd3af796efc4fbea77c3492cc99e2197584155b82433abce296" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102440/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102440", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7629-9835-e430745cd36e" } 4gd8+Zrj7Eyq3fC2b5Qyg9zQcDKSD7hJ/jl5hA7q5pEwJSuK5piA+Xf4o+sbYJOGwNP8rOq058Y6oKJ6n5pqBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 4gd8+Zrj7Eyq3fC2b5Qyg9zQcDKSD7hJ/jl5hA7q5pEwJSuK5piA+Xf4o+sbYJOGwNP8rOq058Y6oKJ6n5pqBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16986,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d2089eb758f82e4b1292f48d75e6193327a71c2d5f75e4c80c292745156bcf46"},{"bytes":6974,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e9b7840b09cc895e94a98e5231dacc33792a5f192f23b23a02da3ca1913c0bbf"},{"bytes":6642,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b22a8f2b9c13d05b72ada1e6b6f409d6a0a3b6c3cea1206c2f78cbbcd64bc640"},{"bytes":2792,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"76110d5ba318d7210f7c41ea2f872559ae4e39e6f303494fb5a32a26c7d6acbe"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"be8a408c285b9ebf66f8a2bdefb0e568343e3b88ae4d6726542b379ef521f1bb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d42680964c4bbaf3f0863b3d7180b32f7488591b2af7c1162d5722512ff78e25"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102441"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102441
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102441

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
b22a8f2b9c13d05b72ada1e6b6f409d6a0a3b6c3cea1206c2f78cbbcd64bc640

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102441, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102441.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102441" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102441" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102441 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102441 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102441 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102441 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102442

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
64ca389cc5ebdae932c5b3c6afd1430e95e4817588d5bb5839aade119d588f2f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102442, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102442.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102442" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102442" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102442 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102442 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102442 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102442 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102442", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 862 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16383, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "11ee9ef3e007ffbc51072d6b2fa25546b4bdd734c1d4a34e0f07c399f9b39ae8" }, { "bytes": 6438, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7d21e53dfbcdc28d443c63d2c20941d8373a5e9be609db12618adec908c746f3" }, { "bytes": 6109, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "64ca389cc5ebdae932c5b3c6afd1430e95e4817588d5bb5839aade119d588f2f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102442/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102442", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-75db-a5ea-224fd5fda6be" } dAJ9CNs8+BEjbGGqBHw+Vd40/NqCSZ/ovFyGKaxoDaMrb8y3HiM0LWANR0r4xlhYKpyFMlrpBNDsahILBjt7Dw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: dAJ9CNs8+BEjbGGqBHw+Vd40/NqCSZ/ovFyGKaxoDaMrb8y3HiM0LWANR0r4xlhYKpyFMlrpBNDsahILBjt7Dw== {"files":[{"bytes":17185,"name":"index.html","sha256":"23362cfb10ca57efc2ceb947227861a789529759013a577f062a7e717c855b90"},{"bytes":7130,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"92bfd5b153eea09ef33aa6eb0acfa2fe066e6fdfce628e9f59cb1a0968c771b6"},{"bytes":6798,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3d6707626dfe7d3e9ea803014be7c37751854a947582d915a845e82d3138da1a"},{"bytes":2792,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7aea36686003ce5b0e4f3d38270b8968dfdaf2d3e442786bc19699e6a5e7fb6f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"fa6ea99bdf1b69b981c724cb0869b2d1f31b72ce83659042c80510b61a5f34ce"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a894a43016a93d382c428fcf8a22818f33a65b94c9b6cb4e709c5e9c272bfd7b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102443"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102443
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102443

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
3d6707626dfe7d3e9ea803014be7c37751854a947582d915a845e82d3138da1a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102443, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102443.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102443" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102443" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102443 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102443 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102443 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102443 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102443", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 968 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17185, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "23362cfb10ca57efc2ceb947227861a789529759013a577f062a7e717c855b90" }, { "bytes": 7130, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "92bfd5b153eea09ef33aa6eb0acfa2fe066e6fdfce628e9f59cb1a0968c771b6" }, { "bytes": 6798, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3d6707626dfe7d3e9ea803014be7c37751854a947582d915a845e82d3138da1a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102443/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102443", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-79a2-9260-93558b883a69" } 6jrKqXi4EHHgLUlahZjW1dRFAr81YOoiXPeoxJXuEEUym/EBcSaEpUCPrClEib7xfXoI25kXQPSJXlGQ46QGDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 6jrKqXi4EHHgLUlahZjW1dRFAr81YOoiXPeoxJXuEEUym/EBcSaEpUCPrClEib7xfXoI25kXQPSJXlGQ46QGDA== {"files":[{"bytes":16932,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d1bcd74bbec0954c9b295ce28a09e5a9e963af40285c449b7d1dba3c93f3ce83"},{"bytes":6920,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a55676533dfcd85f79eee4ffbcbe6344762c726e76916d129fcafc0124ba4cd8"},{"bytes":6588,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"86f2f4e435f563eec17d8bbc687f42291b0bf7cdb5fe30bb98016a26f232d8d3"},{"bytes":2792,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"bea6ebadba5efd168f512bb7fdeed9cce9f437e5b95d82fe23e286ab1cf6f7d4"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e3355ebd6384bb391701c8e8ed888c815b2d8c421e6e48633ded97aa3d1a0b37"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e661a0b8457f95533d6f7b5b1f349311f214f26daf342792b85ce61cdc314ce0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102444"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102444
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102444

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
86f2f4e435f563eec17d8bbc687f42291b0bf7cdb5fe30bb98016a26f232d8d3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102444, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102444.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102444" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102444" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102444 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102444 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102444 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102444 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102444", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 933 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16932, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d1bcd74bbec0954c9b295ce28a09e5a9e963af40285c449b7d1dba3c93f3ce83" }, { "bytes": 6920, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a55676533dfcd85f79eee4ffbcbe6344762c726e76916d129fcafc0124ba4cd8" }, { "bytes": 6588, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "86f2f4e435f563eec17d8bbc687f42291b0bf7cdb5fe30bb98016a26f232d8d3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102444/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102444", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7814-b1eb-618d2d337446" } p9uLi7wnOvtAGCbf2qQzZs2J58tVsSAZWjQmxd5tSJ6kMAxc6LYFjUi9Ck5M2z/bGN75RzXrafGyGlNOzC+DAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: p9uLi7wnOvtAGCbf2qQzZs2J58tVsSAZWjQmxd5tSJ6kMAxc6LYFjUi9Ck5M2z/bGN75RzXrafGyGlNOzC+DAA== {"files":[{"bytes":16137,"name":"index.html","sha256":"bbca823720904858193b00dc33d71b9837577596b771f79da076320418770835"},{"bytes":6240,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a8d0c5f8cf8b7368e32afc1504a22f6c7c4195f4568c4dfbc1522eb7fcafbc6e"},{"bytes":5909,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ded4ea4ea0f0680283c2382658908bf2b0bfd30505a54d052fd64a6e5913bd0d"},{"bytes":2796,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3f88a297f02b09eaa874fd7c71e67add8d64d746edad364491c487251f7f91b7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f58584b2d18feb352bd891e86c935eaa81304ea35c999e97c532198eca4909a2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6526c8b230839107506e23ddb3555daa34fe698a1356ae46b25353483c9e2531"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102445"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102445
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102445

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ded4ea4ea0f0680283c2382658908bf2b0bfd30505a54d052fd64a6e5913bd0d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102445, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102445.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102445" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102445" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102445 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102445 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102445 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102445 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102445", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 825 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16137, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "bbca823720904858193b00dc33d71b9837577596b771f79da076320418770835" }, { "bytes": 6240, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a8d0c5f8cf8b7368e32afc1504a22f6c7c4195f4568c4dfbc1522eb7fcafbc6e" }, { "bytes": 5909, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ded4ea4ea0f0680283c2382658908bf2b0bfd30505a54d052fd64a6e5913bd0d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102445/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102445", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7563-aaf5-6e0d2911b1f1" } d3r16CpoozsNeUq4HuOYjlOfYkddZ0lQU2N4cpV/4GkRhEmA0wDmBRR9FPCDrinYQ8I7s399jrSIv1QBOpQ3Cw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: d3r16CpoozsNeUq4HuOYjlOfYkddZ0lQU2N4cpV/4GkRhEmA0wDmBRR9FPCDrinYQ8I7s399jrSIv1QBOpQ3Cw== {"files":[{"bytes":16939,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2394ca12df71b9ad863e7e4ffacfe4ba903d8236c49c78270c5ad13ddcfa46aa"},{"bytes":6932,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"434e03ccc4932fb7ff149838067525477a9767cba79b2d82edd9729950e54151"},{"bytes":6598,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2f0fc5ec5a0d664424c791af74568abe41cb760acef2381ea337eb68074050cf"},{"bytes":2805,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"83d04239ca802203d2b9135e115c065a2c6a2c6ece7a682ee88339ccb19fc1be"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e8629aa2d50f5ea7fec6502a12b4bfd320ff52dca28511000edb632527f2ecd8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"952668d53af235181ebd1f329900f666018ed5ed77dd722ee5567f8fa4a8bb25"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102446"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102446
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102446

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
2f0fc5ec5a0d664424c791af74568abe41cb760acef2381ea337eb68074050cf

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102446, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102446.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102446" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102446" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102446 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102446 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102446 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102446 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102447

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
2056d9635593416b1261a0e8d8bff52caf58a55313d0e8390706f4e4e3cb7fbf

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102447, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102447.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102447" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102447" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102447 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102447 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102447 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102447 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102447", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 896 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16686, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "20fc1d23d72d7595e03b7f4119bd2c36a59d71e62333c198e54b04b8c12ff7c2" }, { "bytes": 6722, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "db04b5a48453286fa908f3cdc7709ee5a8320632b9f80db91ef9af4763e94df3" }, { "bytes": 6388, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2056d9635593416b1261a0e8d8bff52caf58a55313d0e8390706f4e4e3cb7fbf" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102447/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102447", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7513-ac72-05091e50668f" } 2MTyM597Hx0HKD9b3M0xI9IvCoHougDTEbIZ1LkIzhJz7Sr+lpcAAeYS2vaubaWh6QSJNjvecZxgnBldG7+cBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 2MTyM597Hx0HKD9b3M0xI9IvCoHougDTEbIZ1LkIzhJz7Sr+lpcAAeYS2vaubaWh6QSJNjvecZxgnBldG7+cBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16137,"name":"index.html","sha256":"8c2426a65e2b1b2355dde35ebfe8fe4c8e3f4ec14f438900de61fb0a45c7d417"},{"bytes":6240,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"92e59d2cf2decc0139ff3b3648c01bdb6f8664e4e4627cc9dccaf39135b2fdd5"},{"bytes":5909,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"24d25ad5cd8923ec379d9c0123abbdce19f336bbda923f9167d621525300df24"},{"bytes":2796,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"320d5aed17de1c52e6729d7f83edf7229f22072aaf5973316e9fd1fc63def1fb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"4d482f6097fdd798021d551dc94c279818a87f3446f8ccbaf57fc8210adcd305"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1a788a69cbbd2b9d1c2d41b1382546cbf6feb73ca489d63001d12226f5c1f500"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102448"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102448
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102448

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
24d25ad5cd8923ec379d9c0123abbdce19f336bbda923f9167d621525300df24

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102448, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102448.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102448" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102448" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102448 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102448 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102448 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102448 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102448", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 825 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16137, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8c2426a65e2b1b2355dde35ebfe8fe4c8e3f4ec14f438900de61fb0a45c7d417" }, { "bytes": 6240, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "92e59d2cf2decc0139ff3b3648c01bdb6f8664e4e4627cc9dccaf39135b2fdd5" }, { "bytes": 5909, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "24d25ad5cd8923ec379d9c0123abbdce19f336bbda923f9167d621525300df24" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102448/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102448", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7c36-a60e-83ff629b69c4" } Vi2rKnYHSkgIZD+G9ZMNJQzU2dhxtwJhquTTE4vRI0gr5YlkDY33YMRbbeatS69oj0C/02FkEwOm12jp9FaEBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Vi2rKnYHSkgIZD+G9ZMNJQzU2dhxtwJhquTTE4vRI0gr5YlkDY33YMRbbeatS69oj0C/02FkEwOm12jp9FaEBg== {"files":[{"bytes":16939,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0052d22956726cfd2329a5eb4a88a612e8b84d0b3240d08cc256adfbb2df8977"},{"bytes":6932,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"cc6277445acb7a7683fe11327757431db3e07785356ab688eb16d33b10159b14"},{"bytes":6598,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0eabe7e4a3a862562c741b3225565b3f0bb35131b2d1c2809e5ff0fa64a9b6d3"},{"bytes":2805,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"dcf5c4fbb6404dfc04b63bb6e5fa23308420cb3fbe34e6b9a0724f09ae0edddd"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c3e8fbc54cff4fca9d766c79ee10f72780ec67013912f9b0d605af770967f799"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"171ace1be067e56de7ac5b5227c4374fed175c7977f5151c35c1c9cbcabbe194"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102449"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102449
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102449

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
0eabe7e4a3a862562c741b3225565b3f0bb35131b2d1c2809e5ff0fa64a9b6d3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102449, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102449.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102449" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102449" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102449 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102449 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102449 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102449 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102449", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 931 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16939, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0052d22956726cfd2329a5eb4a88a612e8b84d0b3240d08cc256adfbb2df8977" }, { "bytes": 6932, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cc6277445acb7a7683fe11327757431db3e07785356ab688eb16d33b10159b14" }, { "bytes": 6598, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0eabe7e4a3a862562c741b3225565b3f0bb35131b2d1c2809e5ff0fa64a9b6d3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102449/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102449", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7d0f-aff2-cd0d5d5c0f01" } mQ06rXsYbAlp6quMshpU90HO5/WA/7C2SmTH3Lf3wqe0V5RkMICaHC32mfFIKcBtdE40lLhgjj07UA2XFJnuCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: mQ06rXsYbAlp6quMshpU90HO5/WA/7C2SmTH3Lf3wqe0V5RkMICaHC32mfFIKcBtdE40lLhgjj07UA2XFJnuCw== {"files":[{"bytes":16686,"name":"index.html","sha256":"793961a951aefa938b266476096d2aae75391c17cd8a37e3f16529f01294d5af"},{"bytes":6722,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d684a3fd37937d4ec3e07b02b5b4f554dd7ff3cc104aa7de7d272e40a5cb6ab8"},{"bytes":6388,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9b7367668d498ffe51ff0674b41dfbfef8a863d3933d1a0c87db520791029984"},{"bytes":2805,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f31531dbaacb4211d99764327d8cff65df108bc93c9303dda981f2f1f1e58cce"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"73cf5664840f57eb14bf9d617437d57e5f2007c5a61566b7341e78012a9f30f0"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9df938db8820d0832e4fc0e2170675345368677543f719ac40f9962cef038a43"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102450"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102450
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102450

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
9b7367668d498ffe51ff0674b41dfbfef8a863d3933d1a0c87db520791029984

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102450, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102450.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102450" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102450" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102450 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102450 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102450 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102450 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102450", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 896 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16686, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "793961a951aefa938b266476096d2aae75391c17cd8a37e3f16529f01294d5af" }, { "bytes": 6722, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d684a3fd37937d4ec3e07b02b5b4f554dd7ff3cc104aa7de7d272e40a5cb6ab8" }, { "bytes": 6388, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9b7367668d498ffe51ff0674b41dfbfef8a863d3933d1a0c87db520791029984" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102450/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102450", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7b78-85d7-cd2e5b4c8d16" } iBBXdtbO7IOUOA/dYKnkPj84nMsGbyT2tsVLqKkHBtO9gpEciJOegXM24SOXAM4JGxebE29ylVK9uSAGskZfAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: iBBXdtbO7IOUOA/dYKnkPj84nMsGbyT2tsVLqKkHBtO9gpEciJOegXM24SOXAM4JGxebE29ylVK9uSAGskZfAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16212,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4f3d96fddb421f87a28b78ffb328473907f60fdfc4e1d31876a8b8300dbcfee6"},{"bytes":6255,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c9528b4364706961478633080aaa13b018b932c1887cc2eae738dd081696556b"},{"bytes":5944,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e1b7b1a92dcaaf967152394436ae4df4842a8324c5ee14bd7047f1d2b3517646"},{"bytes":2752,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0af8f8416215d3febb6003e9cf17146a8053bd79d0deb6be32cde995e94da525"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d20a5d4b9c8a90a0848f59a63b624e95c9f6f47904ada8646177e0a3162e0b4a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f414f4fe649376f0e73abef27798761c68b69522f2017e3c55cb67f0559c9b37"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102451"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102451
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102451

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e1b7b1a92dcaaf967152394436ae4df4842a8324c5ee14bd7047f1d2b3517646

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102451, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102451.

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Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102451" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102451" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102451 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102451 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102451 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102451 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102451", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16212, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4f3d96fddb421f87a28b78ffb328473907f60fdfc4e1d31876a8b8300dbcfee6" }, { "bytes": 6255, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c9528b4364706961478633080aaa13b018b932c1887cc2eae738dd081696556b" }, { "bytes": 5944, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e1b7b1a92dcaaf967152394436ae4df4842a8324c5ee14bd7047f1d2b3517646" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102451/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102451", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7676-bb6d-81f9c119a9b2" } eKsmdxEbUdxyUDmU/9lFlni4OZqHtMZl8GVGCXYb6srEWUptcmcEKnper8DxYpxCN9MkfIs1x/EcS/d4h/3OAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: eKsmdxEbUdxyUDmU/9lFlni4OZqHtMZl8GVGCXYb6srEWUptcmcEKnper8DxYpxCN9MkfIs1x/EcS/d4h/3OAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17020,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ace9af68cbf0e44a62e803e31e2447cfca1bb1b3cc118f2f902117723278da6f"},{"bytes":6953,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4c9e83f38b4468ce5a9a688c54faee2243ebded08f824b0a7201bc97b70842e4"},{"bytes":6639,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"54189ca8ba4fbfa4ac3fe4e69c13f6a982a1d059da411840f1aa5f63e440001a"},{"bytes":2761,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d3844c5509afffac63d0f9e6a1f8ae820959f0b97d5a21ad014d2a15c324d9be"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"bb4afec245fd456c5ca746a5d21c168c5fa887c673d6f3718c135ad413c3ec79"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cb5cdbfb3e3b661033147a8cf8b95e2ead6ce5615ae5b6e4a0288f927b8b5ecf"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102452"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102452
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102452

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
54189ca8ba4fbfa4ac3fe4e69c13f6a982a1d059da411840f1aa5f63e440001a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102452, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102452.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102452" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102452" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102452 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102452 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102452 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102452 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102452", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17020, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ace9af68cbf0e44a62e803e31e2447cfca1bb1b3cc118f2f902117723278da6f" }, { "bytes": 6953, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4c9e83f38b4468ce5a9a688c54faee2243ebded08f824b0a7201bc97b70842e4" }, { "bytes": 6639, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "54189ca8ba4fbfa4ac3fe4e69c13f6a982a1d059da411840f1aa5f63e440001a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102452/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102452", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-77b9-b4db-8003485c3674" } NmpAGXmg3A4JM9vrqhIPSZH5SXbIV/JKEyvzG0u72KVqOvimV0BzkcUVqUJw66JmwQl7oAsTkb/hdP5MKAyBBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: NmpAGXmg3A4JM9vrqhIPSZH5SXbIV/JKEyvzG0u72KVqOvimV0BzkcUVqUJw66JmwQl7oAsTkb/hdP5MKAyBBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16767,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1289bf27cb85274b1591017fc2ab72bb1f9500e0857bafb65073a91af36d56e8"},{"bytes":6743,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"38d540a8c50eb0556fec3d26c52d81f773bd71859840b14ca109c4b1cea0ef9e"},{"bytes":6429,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4239cfd7c97f595aecf8fdd249359de592b0a2d3089162a2c8a12223299e0a4d"},{"bytes":2761,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ecddedd11cb2a20b891535ed94266a761d32e3dfafa988bc851a14738b90d4d7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b6e8a70cc063770158c659c7a9d55cd9cea0786ad3b871d2ddbcfb9ad31ae78a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5443b048bdbe45d6676353eac7e8164a23f2088851fa013165b19654aa47de1d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102453"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102453
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102453

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
4239cfd7c97f595aecf8fdd249359de592b0a2d3089162a2c8a12223299e0a4d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102453, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102453.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102453" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102453" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102453 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102453 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102453 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102453 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102453", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16767, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1289bf27cb85274b1591017fc2ab72bb1f9500e0857bafb65073a91af36d56e8" }, { "bytes": 6743, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "38d540a8c50eb0556fec3d26c52d81f773bd71859840b14ca109c4b1cea0ef9e" }, { "bytes": 6429, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4239cfd7c97f595aecf8fdd249359de592b0a2d3089162a2c8a12223299e0a4d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102453/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102453", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7476-8ffd-d8dcd6866b31" } UmILdRcdz6SzZGdsTkzIf2B0LzlpQj46yVM39pn3N1VG6Qy2UqF8wIxJiuY3LP9c+6KvsGFBVi1VRmHyy6pSBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: UmILdRcdz6SzZGdsTkzIf2B0LzlpQj46yVM39pn3N1VG6Qy2UqF8wIxJiuY3LP9c+6KvsGFBVi1VRmHyy6pSBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16213,"name":"index.html","sha256":"071c9c9a26dfc038492ac853b8d9735df65565368d49402f0ff29bda6419935f"},{"bytes":6256,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"18345b95127a14119be6c78ebd792f36c38476340c78490604bb234771084667"},{"bytes":5945,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7c7df09ffe755b2279fead6838c7117ed09cc88031e58ae428669d9a2bec3b81"},{"bytes":2752,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7d5c01c5525324505e1b9262b290d41c98c99411e827ca07403e486f24fd6851"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d5835d2898474fe24055ff6d3766c0ada805aaf6e754193d0822451ac3dafb4b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"faedfb466237135ff45db4fffcc99c7631f56e3de763625b55ac51078d6ef937"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102454"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102454
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102454

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
7c7df09ffe755b2279fead6838c7117ed09cc88031e58ae428669d9a2bec3b81

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102454, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102454.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102454" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102454" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102454 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102454 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102454 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102454 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102454", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16213, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "071c9c9a26dfc038492ac853b8d9735df65565368d49402f0ff29bda6419935f" }, { "bytes": 6256, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "18345b95127a14119be6c78ebd792f36c38476340c78490604bb234771084667" }, { "bytes": 5945, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7c7df09ffe755b2279fead6838c7117ed09cc88031e58ae428669d9a2bec3b81" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102454/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102454", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-784e-a0e2-ce7b08fbdebf" } NV8dt55sQHdOegrju2UahKxyCplc5rSEjbNvj8GdT/DDyWLHFDDem/OPIisR0ZrGmUGvn4TK3MKsV0w/BIKEAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: NV8dt55sQHdOegrju2UahKxyCplc5rSEjbNvj8GdT/DDyWLHFDDem/OPIisR0ZrGmUGvn4TK3MKsV0w/BIKEAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17021,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ca6b535aae3c3e4375912a1cc478a08c9af75d3bd5902c063a671bf9b5959ce2"},{"bytes":6954,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a4ed077c13c65ffe5ac247ff41589d7330849cce747b166fef4f344066a9ca3f"},{"bytes":6640,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e38ec16d56baf9043203a7f34735007db8064552f058345a225f888f5ca168f5"},{"bytes":2761,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f6ac36e90f1a4bdc3e9918cbd9cfecace1d42728c5141d78ee7b0effa87a3f05"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"dab29b4d4699de4a3594e6a9902f3e67745c67c909b69ea5e3ac225793a5114a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"312e7cd5f84cde56c76f22b82e400cbba061aa81c5252c44f61373ef4fc46548"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102455"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102455
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102455

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e38ec16d56baf9043203a7f34735007db8064552f058345a225f888f5ca168f5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102455, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102455.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102455" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102455" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102455 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102455 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102455 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102455 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102456

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
84254815bec9f88d47f96aed942b1c7945a5501f626841b4145b211cc363bcfd

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102456, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102456.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102456" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102456" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102456 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102456 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102456 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102456 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102456", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16768, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0120046a8cc983dde3740ff557e25d9cbc450df449bd6bc781db773184b026fe" }, { "bytes": 6744, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bf769f6adc8d6931bbb40e142fa6d555987f46584520c67b041f7aec73b1208b" }, { "bytes": 6430, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "84254815bec9f88d47f96aed942b1c7945a5501f626841b4145b211cc363bcfd" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102456/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102456", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-78c2-8b71-97addbe73260" } s6XvCv/Q5VRDZ4R0fAEJlAhVLMpO/w9muGLZjFc1sHmVDArk1XC1ORlx5JHTSJt4OZDyjnXESfmDE01MiLtxAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: s6XvCv/Q5VRDZ4R0fAEJlAhVLMpO/w9muGLZjFc1sHmVDArk1XC1ORlx5JHTSJt4OZDyjnXESfmDE01MiLtxAA== {"files":[{"bytes":16217,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6d53e6595ab6f7a4dd6e23a9e3014d4a2011b750fadade2934c0c0d7ef030b90"},{"bytes":6260,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"282b96cce8cc8abeeea0d6049b4e5415092e2d8c845243f3d60d14f9009eeaaf"},{"bytes":5949,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fa05d4a53ec3573b2b950aa18b6e83aed42c9250a6b7fcefd893508b1db3907b"},{"bytes":2752,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"33e84a87f01014a7782256062cf6dcd069d24fcb7deec3ded4016b17a7fb61a4"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"cf29ae89a0ae2752351882390adfd854fa549199edf50004d85e9cd207cb8e42"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"74c678f4a191f10759cd1a6db441d13570e2cf324221f9ae0ddb2ed0acad3f55"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102457"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102457
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102457

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
fa05d4a53ec3573b2b950aa18b6e83aed42c9250a6b7fcefd893508b1db3907b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102457, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102457.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102457" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102457" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102457 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102457 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102457 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102457 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102457", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16217, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6d53e6595ab6f7a4dd6e23a9e3014d4a2011b750fadade2934c0c0d7ef030b90" }, { "bytes": 6260, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "282b96cce8cc8abeeea0d6049b4e5415092e2d8c845243f3d60d14f9009eeaaf" }, { "bytes": 5949, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fa05d4a53ec3573b2b950aa18b6e83aed42c9250a6b7fcefd893508b1db3907b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102457/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102457", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7a77-b901-21a08f7c146f" } VFW4j2R37kdqmE07u07BHpwXuvv2CVpoRt7aQVW9Palpl9AWIf03lxLfdvpYKaH5bVzXs0mfdyTfTajhGSnpDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: VFW4j2R37kdqmE07u07BHpwXuvv2CVpoRt7aQVW9Palpl9AWIf03lxLfdvpYKaH5bVzXs0mfdyTfTajhGSnpDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17025,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ef9da548cdd61973f6c03aae59a3e6baf777c7686e794db82af79bb0a8121d2d"},{"bytes":6958,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"adfae27e087ac11153bec50b1a20a4239b8ce8877f4dcd6bff63a2e379c7e1f4"},{"bytes":6644,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"11cbc6a476df55ff5bb46b96f1be62512d7d9bf49ca3da360de58cb89f428920"},{"bytes":2761,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7d06812a5d50140043dc602feb9bc8470e02a9ba669e2cf9ff5759f16f95e709"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"30b3228929fb6f2a6802314a7f08340a1ecf60395410a29258262b2e330ac355"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a394135b57401f070edfed8e97bf717b6772c95b27d0e5fadc0f423a6b55cb48"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102458"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102458
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102458

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
11cbc6a476df55ff5bb46b96f1be62512d7d9bf49ca3da360de58cb89f428920

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102458, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102458.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102458" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102458" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102458 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102458 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102458 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102458 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102458", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17025, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ef9da548cdd61973f6c03aae59a3e6baf777c7686e794db82af79bb0a8121d2d" }, { "bytes": 6958, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "adfae27e087ac11153bec50b1a20a4239b8ce8877f4dcd6bff63a2e379c7e1f4" }, { "bytes": 6644, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "11cbc6a476df55ff5bb46b96f1be62512d7d9bf49ca3da360de58cb89f428920" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102458/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102458", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7074-9acd-2e396b6f56ed" } DluS+HdLWzaypErdJIY2SvQCqzxzNJjX7j6y03mulSHTssCk9I+zNKSQGkdFo4vlkt0hJ2pNnAnJdQVPHHHBAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DluS+HdLWzaypErdJIY2SvQCqzxzNJjX7j6y03mulSHTssCk9I+zNKSQGkdFo4vlkt0hJ2pNnAnJdQVPHHHBAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16772,"name":"index.html","sha256":"330db7db54469b5b626c6bcbefa054be02b5d769c9fef1437162ff8a0ac6d5fd"},{"bytes":6748,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1e85a97e64a16d7c5070cda6e6157ab7e3181e4162c73d8c23b9398870b415bb"},{"bytes":6434,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8c1affe575da8681def7d494689f1a13fd44044a4623672aa64cc284d8dd0d1f"},{"bytes":2761,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"e1b3a1a706a940bbd0ff60af8a0f63a40cff9ac4be50e54e4b2c91edd8883e3e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9d44e9518bdd1308fc36edb11000f04e78d783ebda22a2348693fa7df8c879f2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ef2944a937755900364ed52ea62e89f8dfb1912997283dc5439f7331c6b70437"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102459"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102459
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102459

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8c1affe575da8681def7d494689f1a13fd44044a4623672aa64cc284d8dd0d1f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102459, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102459.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102459" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102459" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102459 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102459 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102459 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102459 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102459", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16772, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "330db7db54469b5b626c6bcbefa054be02b5d769c9fef1437162ff8a0ac6d5fd" }, { "bytes": 6748, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1e85a97e64a16d7c5070cda6e6157ab7e3181e4162c73d8c23b9398870b415bb" }, { "bytes": 6434, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8c1affe575da8681def7d494689f1a13fd44044a4623672aa64cc284d8dd0d1f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102459/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102459", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7f5f-b779-e5d45dce794b" } KyTJKHV9hu6DCFI7EtLYshSOrLbpS8El0HlKaLAt4KdGkHtzpc2xrYjUvR/Xu67HJ/hj+sqgcqoPT4JlJ1W/Bw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: KyTJKHV9hu6DCFI7EtLYshSOrLbpS8El0HlKaLAt4KdGkHtzpc2xrYjUvR/Xu67HJ/hj+sqgcqoPT4JlJ1W/Bw== {"files":[{"bytes":16406,"name":"index.html","sha256":"86a4704ff87fe65874aa3fb0010f34fbf56c3a05d455120cebeb373a894a0d4f"},{"bytes":6417,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ab66ffb2771f3b9070c3f8dba88d14d61b89e25701a5bd14710e1f6e3767ebae"},{"bytes":6116,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fdaa3636038cbeb792531023620e7f6cdd0fad61e501bc4394cdf27803a6ac20"},{"bytes":2731,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1a5a2b622113417ca0102195d8798327c33cdf2b74dbc902b0857cc608d5bc66"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d8c6bc1a48c6b10fbe544f73c1220d026bdf66fc9754ad1ba47f312d3b9a9e22"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5a64729a545a54a630c7217cb293828fc8e5c2698a888bed2a1994b73771c1e0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102460"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102460
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102460

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
fdaa3636038cbeb792531023620e7f6cdd0fad61e501bc4394cdf27803a6ac20

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102460, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102460.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102460" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102460" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102460 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102460 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102460 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102460 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102461

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
214604b70463c72e1698808c35d4beb5d38dce46fe9c0b604419dce52cecec34

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102461, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102461.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102461" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102461" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102461 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102461 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102461 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102461 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102461", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 983 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17214, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9a836aed6bd7e44d783a5a60d7ea5303d99c7e7414ef742253f11132231cbd52" }, { "bytes": 7115, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2e42ba771677e6d6f6e3f9b81a742dc577f962dcf4ec87f15addafc0404e6c60" }, { "bytes": 6811, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "214604b70463c72e1698808c35d4beb5d38dce46fe9c0b604419dce52cecec34" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102461/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102461", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-71f2-882e-4077a8dc0b5e" } DCoktfNbaDaRQuvb4PpG8IiLfuPffzoLjJ1cEtdGDjvqrQJKU1wiXmXSDhmflVKKwdViK9DU97wIO1wOxdicAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DCoktfNbaDaRQuvb4PpG8IiLfuPffzoLjJ1cEtdGDjvqrQJKU1wiXmXSDhmflVKKwdViK9DU97wIO1wOxdicAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16961,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0e8a0635ee2b3f34e9b58c33331b5a2d909b1622407c1eeed144e7361ba3594a"},{"bytes":6905,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bed25be14187a65576acf87e6d0b918ba64fd3d9f180a696b40d3a597b58d7ad"},{"bytes":6601,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"83b41606ffeed3ad6c09c593ba6ece73ad5d1ee4322f677207806e84fade3f3f"},{"bytes":2740,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0b785dbb7d8d9392f01d3633ca7509e8c7089771ccb8edf65e00795cd54843f7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6ec71feeb085950e7f5df27e052e9d039829fc4d252177eb5474af588655b1e8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9240c0381fa7816b7ff4dce6dcfbc5346e1fa4ad463e498522c342f00f96c98f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102462"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102462
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102462

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
83b41606ffeed3ad6c09c593ba6ece73ad5d1ee4322f677207806e84fade3f3f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102462, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102462.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102462" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102462" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102462 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102462 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102462 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102462 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102462", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16961, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0e8a0635ee2b3f34e9b58c33331b5a2d909b1622407c1eeed144e7361ba3594a" }, { "bytes": 6905, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bed25be14187a65576acf87e6d0b918ba64fd3d9f180a696b40d3a597b58d7ad" }, { "bytes": 6601, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "83b41606ffeed3ad6c09c593ba6ece73ad5d1ee4322f677207806e84fade3f3f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102462/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102462", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-8589-7060-9789-0612f9e43f68" } 8cIdPjKKfVhU9X/OAKmTE6V2N0B7R+a29SlVLyaTY4eSGoBvH9ydlvE7SwHX3ddvfDlpqp+iwafpvcpMzSSVCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 8cIdPjKKfVhU9X/OAKmTE6V2N0B7R+a29SlVLyaTY4eSGoBvH9ydlvE7SwHX3ddvfDlpqp+iwafpvcpMzSSVCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16352,"name":"index.html","sha256":"956985ae79fa6a71eb089ebedc8acdea0daa95967efbb0317c39b44e3b1acf74"},{"bytes":6363,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ab11d7d4f9e463c1c07d73093f4ab4c48cabd0afdf9a3acb709f23efc3b81f1b"},{"bytes":6062,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1b0b8099cd69bde4b289dcc9034ce8ad0e9de14f0d457f49b8066f3768c92412"},{"bytes":2731,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"63d7fb2fbe5ac785bd4000201aeb4502c853862eee30d05acb26705f23905602"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"42e841ee5af70d3bc646e995c71eadf3a500c6296d759df357f674fa9a620bf1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0bde8839fdb1e855dae476b4e9571900d520327af79d404607ca5f6d56a9b817"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102463"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102463
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102463

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
1b0b8099cd69bde4b289dcc9034ce8ad0e9de14f0d457f49b8066f3768c92412

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102463, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102463.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102463" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102463" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102463 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102463 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102463 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102463 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102463", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 862 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16352, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "956985ae79fa6a71eb089ebedc8acdea0daa95967efbb0317c39b44e3b1acf74" }, { "bytes": 6363, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ab11d7d4f9e463c1c07d73093f4ab4c48cabd0afdf9a3acb709f23efc3b81f1b" }, { "bytes": 6062, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1b0b8099cd69bde4b289dcc9034ce8ad0e9de14f0d457f49b8066f3768c92412" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102463/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102463", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-70d5-8118-76179f53ae55" } Qy2TjLz13UBh9ntXxnjHDjS5Q+AboRXq49VhU7/pwpmdttoSRLsgYclriL/X1t7sXzYCs4HjxRO4n8zKPDshCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Qy2TjLz13UBh9ntXxnjHDjS5Q+AboRXq49VhU7/pwpmdttoSRLsgYclriL/X1t7sXzYCs4HjxRO4n8zKPDshCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17160,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1c7e75d4655510f31f112cf2a51d01c291ff04bb4d1b5b03a52402c501d62fd5"},{"bytes":7061,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a8ac364924f89eca02cd1bdd8757c8e367c5910474cbe43ca0949f74512d376e"},{"bytes":6757,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"26e7f1795d428fa80955be2d8ab90924825704ff56aeb2a1e05ef6b21b41d986"},{"bytes":2740,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b5530faa10fd99ea4014624aba4aea8a4284759b5c66d526a059500c4c07ef0c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"691f6181d14d1186adffe01b9b63ab9f955eee0de990e4c78b5e98cbcceb0100"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6b59f2b7bdbd351220e86bcc696e208cc948aa3522c7370a1c4d60f9735480dc"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102464"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102464
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102464

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
26e7f1795d428fa80955be2d8ab90924825704ff56aeb2a1e05ef6b21b41d986

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102464, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102464.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102464" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102464" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102464 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102464 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102464 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102464 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102464", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 968 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17160, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1c7e75d4655510f31f112cf2a51d01c291ff04bb4d1b5b03a52402c501d62fd5" }, { "bytes": 7061, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a8ac364924f89eca02cd1bdd8757c8e367c5910474cbe43ca0949f74512d376e" }, { "bytes": 6757, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "26e7f1795d428fa80955be2d8ab90924825704ff56aeb2a1e05ef6b21b41d986" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102464/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102464", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7448-b4b2-4146ca83e4ce" } yRPMNK5uKzs8CCe5SlFVPofar8bz0x8pYMdlu7xq9T0XJbXkGD2wNVAQ5TmXHVTJYsYA63pYzToUQtmDH+juDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: yRPMNK5uKzs8CCe5SlFVPofar8bz0x8pYMdlu7xq9T0XJbXkGD2wNVAQ5TmXHVTJYsYA63pYzToUQtmDH+juDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16907,"name":"index.html","sha256":"91607c42f191e4010a6a1a5bdc971c3e717a0929bc736dfb717ee6add78ac1f5"},{"bytes":6851,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d6de06a52e624cc6af6db47233a497485062f40e65bf60b60aa6465787fa1d21"},{"bytes":6547,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"aee9b5456331126190e6db35f44fc3a9f1dcbfdb0a219ec3a6d267715fb8fed2"},{"bytes":2740,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"557806bb2bef59c1b7c3b9af93de330198e078a10859c0e74c21c7fbd178bef5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"29d45b8b87b905d29c18d931ec7edc1c4f36bf717e01ac3638e7d56195769f54"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c665dd083b01a2a1b8fd77dda006bf7215d515019e6a9bb7326c6f1a9a36d19c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102465"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102465
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102465

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
aee9b5456331126190e6db35f44fc3a9f1dcbfdb0a219ec3a6d267715fb8fed2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102465, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102465.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102465" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102465" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102465 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102465 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102465 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102465 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102466

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
38561aa7352786811e0b3ad0c509785c9a10c04e4c1c9c4368f8742e97d19b1d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102466, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102466.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102466" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102466" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102466 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102466 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102466 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102466 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102466", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 825 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16106, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e991def73e248de7f0f0f08590fe0420d37a1870111105d5a4ef8a57fca3b13c" }, { "bytes": 6165, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "552897b153f02a28ea8e7f886ffe8822a0f11a4dd655a580d108ed116e6e66a1" }, { "bytes": 5862, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "38561aa7352786811e0b3ad0c509785c9a10c04e4c1c9c4368f8742e97d19b1d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102466/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102466", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7249-a1a4-73c4cfb5cad4" } TVZ1bYFV5zaNFrRmZJaYErbzz6fUe4LUFUUhEV+HMc/teNiPk/TrHdx1JllaUcveajZJG119kNqzXk+HhogiAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: TVZ1bYFV5zaNFrRmZJaYErbzz6fUe4LUFUUhEV+HMc/teNiPk/TrHdx1JllaUcveajZJG119kNqzXk+HhogiAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16914,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cd3d0264879da5461df83b147f91bb225ea960ca148e138e5d86a2e73a3d6110"},{"bytes":6863,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"384ec221d3c3109884bfbf5b34c14b072e2241c0458cb51ad771561f9ee48759"},{"bytes":6557,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"407805c3f07630fa4cbe1f806694b80c2f0c7b581880bede12fa2a591ff8cb15"},{"bytes":2753,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c603c09ffc4724363a1da8dce2be766e0ad9f6cf03ca312991e5ee6f3eb78b50"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"05c1abd6d99563f86cec98b7c9bdae1a42e2ae800aa7501e563aa2383264028d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"89fec4a01dac8810a320366b20230a0382047314054d9124a5bdcbc0815ad967"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102467"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102467
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102467

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
407805c3f07630fa4cbe1f806694b80c2f0c7b581880bede12fa2a591ff8cb15

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102467, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102467.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102467" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102467" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102467 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102467 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102467 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102467 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102467", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 931 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16914, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cd3d0264879da5461df83b147f91bb225ea960ca148e138e5d86a2e73a3d6110" }, { "bytes": 6863, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "384ec221d3c3109884bfbf5b34c14b072e2241c0458cb51ad771561f9ee48759" }, { "bytes": 6557, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "407805c3f07630fa4cbe1f806694b80c2f0c7b581880bede12fa2a591ff8cb15" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102467/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102467", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7ce4-a7e6-62778971ba7a" } tKXTmsv2viV5D99rXXROxS35me5OhqRw6ci4n/QQgp2b6ZjX2Yy6X3YGyAbvJGbMy2dPUYQu0XUTViE7RfKqDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: tKXTmsv2viV5D99rXXROxS35me5OhqRw6ci4n/QQgp2b6ZjX2Yy6X3YGyAbvJGbMy2dPUYQu0XUTViE7RfKqDA== {"files":[{"bytes":16661,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cfc7fcd0169df53b9be1e00cf9cc695d36e0ce91cdbc9fc840939e9cba4ff1ee"},{"bytes":6653,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"725cb52eb9529e38cf21b7bd62f08125deec13d5d8d44dfd9923ba3c29acd30a"},{"bytes":6347,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fd680b0c4bddcd357f4cd3a782db37ff5e53ef0df2382bac25dfeec50e9102ab"},{"bytes":2753,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4c6c69d73dc6ccf742bc12ca3a32761540662583ec11ce4514bb15fb96efb98a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"593b74b17b79e466e5dbfe5ef93d04363aa51131d55675f475fe75997faac0bb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8dc2a152cfe237da4872b0e795ddd5bc12c2156c7b73b408d2a3cf224497cf46"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102468"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102468
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102468

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
fd680b0c4bddcd357f4cd3a782db37ff5e53ef0df2382bac25dfeec50e9102ab

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102468, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102468.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102468" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102468" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102468 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102468 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102468 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102468 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102469

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
783ca886b6f97ee960158377f7664d8bff65614ff8f67b6e52c09f4d7cb83a01

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102469, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102469.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102469" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102469" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102469 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102469 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102469 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102469 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102470

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
beb449abcb7d9e3e977c5f1507e11ae40d0947b8aca273e59bca79df9732941a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102470, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102470.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102470" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102470" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102470 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102470 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102470 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102470 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102470", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 931 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16914, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "97b45f0125fa85157d8690c77aab35fb4082a8556975a0b72b6abbfaad1f3b84" }, { "bytes": 6863, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a3d0502e8c704367e55b09f78be79b5998a50dbb90211237773eaaf05359c586" }, { "bytes": 6557, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "beb449abcb7d9e3e977c5f1507e11ae40d0947b8aca273e59bca79df9732941a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102470/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102470", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-781c-a4c4-73edc368b4fa" } rVF1Ou7qkQY/dhN2hPvHAzyDDuTVrqajU/RPtXAIo9A9rqcOf6mpSnpaoi8uxAKy4qVrAZsFWAtVoNiY1nvxAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: rVF1Ou7qkQY/dhN2hPvHAzyDDuTVrqajU/RPtXAIo9A9rqcOf6mpSnpaoi8uxAKy4qVrAZsFWAtVoNiY1nvxAA== {"files":[{"bytes":16661,"name":"index.html","sha256":"313b1f8342188380ab56e52c062fbac67512b2b8f61ce65f61eb4cb1f65822e1"},{"bytes":6653,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f4a6fea7e721f3df5753529a320117cd4c9b3bf0cff28ada5407eedc24fa5cf1"},{"bytes":6347,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f65a85282bd101fb5e88a825e73a98c52f4e81d4a4ecfc24338f7a025fa77d21"},{"bytes":2753,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"18a75984e9d90445de6e9fca73263f7d7e010e3d15d79bb555b3ba9f9844fae2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"456afdd1537d894826843e36e1f9c7c61f87445231b913e2582d202760bcb663"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5b103ce803a8330a157310880eaf8aed2b1ff892ce332c23f2f2963cbb5e05f6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102471"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102471
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102471

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
f65a85282bd101fb5e88a825e73a98c52f4e81d4a4ecfc24338f7a025fa77d21

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102471, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102471.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102471" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102471" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102471 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102471 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has two outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: two (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102471 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102471 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102471", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 896 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16661, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "313b1f8342188380ab56e52c062fbac67512b2b8f61ce65f61eb4cb1f65822e1" }, { "bytes": 6653, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f4a6fea7e721f3df5753529a320117cd4c9b3bf0cff28ada5407eedc24fa5cf1" }, { "bytes": 6347, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f65a85282bd101fb5e88a825e73a98c52f4e81d4a4ecfc24338f7a025fa77d21" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102471/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102471", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, two outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7ff4-81e6-ef6010c1c4b2" } uI68rVmnu511d+De2lhwVmx6plxgCLJUACPzkzY/3G2CMPW/Sk32gTY8kst0oG/bPQSwI9vXmo/IU8tAXKeACQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: uI68rVmnu511d+De2lhwVmx6plxgCLJUACPzkzY/3G2CMPW/Sk32gTY8kst0oG/bPQSwI9vXmo/IU8tAXKeACQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16480,"name":"index.html","sha256":"582e9b1fe43aa21aacef31f1ce6bfc5cc0c27830243315007706258aca0ac06c"},{"bytes":6445,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2f254c5246a77fee5be8cbfd1e8fff473a8f1edaee0cbacd708eb9297030f8ea"},{"bytes":6127,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cc86323fc183894c8d5ad98dbe47ea2cf9464b81134f52749dabc8cdfbba97fa"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2a8e5411e1f7dd8a1a8e87758993d1e7081f48dab364cfe866b7f004af0a1a60"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f5cffad5bd4e2c50c2e84c0a67dfa8cfb9f0be5b38839282c9b82443292cf85b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bb805dd5f8d13a5bc233a9d83092e24f2dca14818e4f7403a1909762db5e9f3c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102472"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102472
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102472

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
cc86323fc183894c8d5ad98dbe47ea2cf9464b81134f52749dabc8cdfbba97fa

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102472, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102472.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102472" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102472" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102472 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102472 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102472 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102472 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102472", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16480, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "582e9b1fe43aa21aacef31f1ce6bfc5cc0c27830243315007706258aca0ac06c" }, { "bytes": 6445, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2f254c5246a77fee5be8cbfd1e8fff473a8f1edaee0cbacd708eb9297030f8ea" }, { "bytes": 6127, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cc86323fc183894c8d5ad98dbe47ea2cf9464b81134f52749dabc8cdfbba97fa" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102472/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102472", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7b4e-894a-74b4e8c82074" } bD8QBuQ7JlTQXB+t6xQnez7JOrd1gW2+44abnFBc+wSrFKFiyFsYw5yQkbgFkmWFq4QiPtBVxQe75Ssc2KrTDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: bD8QBuQ7JlTQXB+t6xQnez7JOrd1gW2+44abnFBc+wSrFKFiyFsYw5yQkbgFkmWFq4QiPtBVxQe75Ssc2KrTDg== {"files":[{"bytes":17288,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f1e8c24cd2c020c78a07d02c7b4462431248342996a9f49da53f427d6b5d7f64"},{"bytes":7143,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f3c7aa8fab6275f767d1dba88ae9b2bddf6f690ab8bb9f913f7b0161ef47a1f6"},{"bytes":6822,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"267f0fb77bb3947909212722d7b9fb590802f285e92b4be344c13ad087f1c097"},{"bytes":2760,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"855e8352efea678847b1e18a0771cebd7630d672787d7bf223f1ee8a093ded0a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"055d6ac1ab8b9d52ba29272ef35391cda523b210eca4388e7dcc86aed6b4c284"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"343893816e882bfd5de649ae7e19b4b598bfd5df8a4c3d5b454fbfce52bdc8f3"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102473"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102473
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102473

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
267f0fb77bb3947909212722d7b9fb590802f285e92b4be344c13ad087f1c097

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102473, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102473.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102473" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102473" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102473 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102473 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102473 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102473 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102473", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17288, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f1e8c24cd2c020c78a07d02c7b4462431248342996a9f49da53f427d6b5d7f64" }, { "bytes": 7143, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f3c7aa8fab6275f767d1dba88ae9b2bddf6f690ab8bb9f913f7b0161ef47a1f6" }, { "bytes": 6822, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "267f0fb77bb3947909212722d7b9fb590802f285e92b4be344c13ad087f1c097" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102473/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102473", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-798c-8609-1433b79537c6" } 1aUqsDxhBw5+Y5hu56v2ChGinI/Gor4dhsawZiywCjBlyucTpkSiobypsmiHutHYrog9WBGRH2kBof3fbn1XCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 1aUqsDxhBw5+Y5hu56v2ChGinI/Gor4dhsawZiywCjBlyucTpkSiobypsmiHutHYrog9WBGRH2kBof3fbn1XCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17035,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9231142534e9a20b472c3856219f9e7ab74e8499b79e8fc9ee9c41c8c36f389b"},{"bytes":6933,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c4f7638d680478bfcb79204ecc363035a9e20f64084a749d9331b7853d95bf16"},{"bytes":6612,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"802a31ee0befc0eacc28f016a1504d53410cabcb3a9784fffd42ccdcc63e2acf"},{"bytes":2760,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c884125fe09ce86adb73355c6d78f2ec665ac999a436e924a96a0b3371b88b95"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"509eae5221a3d511b63891116952dda29648c84dffd83ebc5d24035cc6072300"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d75e68d5151eb53787792b6868e405e342e64d83e328e626136ae71568c4e189"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102474"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102474
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102474

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
802a31ee0befc0eacc28f016a1504d53410cabcb3a9784fffd42ccdcc63e2acf

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102474, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102474.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102474" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102474" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102474 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102474 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102474 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102474 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102475

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b00f23289faaca8f593be5b39699bef72c53419fe1684ff50e6ad69019f3f9ac

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102475, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102475.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102475" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102475" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102475 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102475 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102475 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102475 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102475", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16481, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "25a8ea6c7707bdb670418f6c6a5e88614197b289550d116a7272184b4aa8fcd8" }, { "bytes": 6446, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0425d1cc432a5d997716167fa3396cd617ede8dee424004160457264e7283b56" }, { "bytes": 6128, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b00f23289faaca8f593be5b39699bef72c53419fe1684ff50e6ad69019f3f9ac" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102475/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102475", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7fac-95be-b1abb165ade7" } 99uPhiRcbJUsAUJ10AiJH+F4vsizOEPxAWlSzYHiT09l12RN5jIOw7nQKFMo+P7vY0cu1kmHy5tCEJ2FaBm/DA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 99uPhiRcbJUsAUJ10AiJH+F4vsizOEPxAWlSzYHiT09l12RN5jIOw7nQKFMo+P7vY0cu1kmHy5tCEJ2FaBm/DA== {"files":[{"bytes":17289,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9f9e328ba7be91adcb94c193ec6b8976b1db2e80533254cc18edb54e4e61c373"},{"bytes":7144,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"07ee010e4f03dc487ad0cbb3a07cc91163e3aa0b0663dd977b6966b3385c9daa"},{"bytes":6823,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"53fe7f639aac2d6f3316c2ac3211c948d13720d426407c9b854b109ee32f6fa7"},{"bytes":2760,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"546ec6d328d9a8ad3147f2f881a8d507d7ffe36bee4ce43c880beedb5cffb312"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6fac5abe0c8c348bc906a585176394ed73ab9a478a4560e0995b9766c80d483d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ae86b259e6619ae9750b2f85845a5c8a57b1e744fe5a275f88fbebee293e805b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102476"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102476
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102476

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
53fe7f639aac2d6f3316c2ac3211c948d13720d426407c9b854b109ee32f6fa7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102476, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102476.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102476" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102476" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102476 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102476 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102476 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102476 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102476", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17289, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9f9e328ba7be91adcb94c193ec6b8976b1db2e80533254cc18edb54e4e61c373" }, { "bytes": 7144, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "07ee010e4f03dc487ad0cbb3a07cc91163e3aa0b0663dd977b6966b3385c9daa" }, { "bytes": 6823, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "53fe7f639aac2d6f3316c2ac3211c948d13720d426407c9b854b109ee32f6fa7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102476/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102476", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7826-8b45-aa6158530353" } +WEK+D3JJH2w2In4ydjVrr9jdkRJN7YQiAtkxPh11A12GriB5/l3DKdd6Qx1xaZz5fIRZIQGvHpl5zKp3ctyBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +WEK+D3JJH2w2In4ydjVrr9jdkRJN7YQiAtkxPh11A12GriB5/l3DKdd6Qx1xaZz5fIRZIQGvHpl5zKp3ctyBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17036,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ee20b843ba2c3c61a4aacdea1dbe0b3232777e1d5762e2e13ef1936401ac74c5"},{"bytes":6934,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d129034099b826d8aa4c80546249045dc2c19c9fe0d50ca9e8c73812d01642e6"},{"bytes":6613,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f8c60376436538cef6069e3d402b54d839f162459ef203c5a1f83254cf14f8b7"},{"bytes":2760,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7a7df6c0ac791c65674f25a0ef1892a565955ecfac90e166b905f6f613441894"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"06a676a2c564f824b826af11c859b11462d5d8285d5cf4fa860bb64a3a7364d6"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c66d55bd78062c108060de6377940d5b4f8939f20e1f553c4e84854d23e2831d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102477"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102477
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102477

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
f8c60376436538cef6069e3d402b54d839f162459ef203c5a1f83254cf14f8b7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102477, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102477.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102477" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102477" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102477 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102477 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102477 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102477 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102477", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17036, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ee20b843ba2c3c61a4aacdea1dbe0b3232777e1d5762e2e13ef1936401ac74c5" }, { "bytes": 6934, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d129034099b826d8aa4c80546249045dc2c19c9fe0d50ca9e8c73812d01642e6" }, { "bytes": 6613, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f8c60376436538cef6069e3d402b54d839f162459ef203c5a1f83254cf14f8b7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102477/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102477", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-79bc-97e6-0ae4d2432d2f" } y9OwXW1v4xB92geip/H7JJ8EL6PJ6HYZmfGEcX2WZJDzJpxVQ3cznSBCrYxyhpX/8nbbaBjzSsao/mE41PJwAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: y9OwXW1v4xB92geip/H7JJ8EL6PJ6HYZmfGEcX2WZJDzJpxVQ3cznSBCrYxyhpX/8nbbaBjzSsao/mE41PJwAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16485,"name":"index.html","sha256":"58c3f3295380be782530ad33fa713f37a8a17550772d4d30fe13029ee4fba87c"},{"bytes":6450,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4815e9a6118338bab7999d3b3e26fc8be5025599f5323f03c8cf2e51748d393d"},{"bytes":6132,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"57a178858060cccb47edf97af4819387a67dd0a2aa3b9cccac6de25b0d88cae6"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3955d04f9c5c4148a52fe6b6708c64fc514c2153b8de819c4738db9c540bcef3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"5287e03993029f4d21931962781ec81b38a81771202970978e4bcbe7f9bf7305"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"06eddb7e1b7d4733bff18f32de417b70993abfb6fd9bf75e44ac63671e0485fc"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102478"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102478
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102478

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
57a178858060cccb47edf97af4819387a67dd0a2aa3b9cccac6de25b0d88cae6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102478, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102478.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102478" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102478" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102478 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102478 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102478 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102478 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102479

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7a0696dae3e3a035285328f5582cf0a8a0a63fb2e4b74c8d6217c0cfe8dd134d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102479, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102479.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102479" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102479" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102479 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102479 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102479 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102479 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102480

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6022fbeade0b2c08a90286222f8a69ad2981282741a26883802d91b51f1b3788

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102480, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102480.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102480" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102480" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102480 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102480 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102480 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102480 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102480", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17040, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b2a790c38986621ae6fe2401056f63b650f7edf017a37e87b4ea634aee3683ad" }, { "bytes": 6938, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6e1a5ee34007d2f52c8a80dc0b4f1ec6cd2a5fd0443e9a4591036647205348eb" }, { "bytes": 6617, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6022fbeade0b2c08a90286222f8a69ad2981282741a26883802d91b51f1b3788" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102480/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102480", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7116-a8d0-e3632b35985f" } HV5JZBhUNqpEsOfUqgmmMyQb705Hy5KViBYrBVWsOejbBND/Ukcpu5kxU4+OLRFWH7627zIkfnRR1MkbJg0LCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: HV5JZBhUNqpEsOfUqgmmMyQb705Hy5KViBYrBVWsOejbBND/Ukcpu5kxU4+OLRFWH7627zIkfnRR1MkbJg0LCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16674,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2dfd049aebc0f28a2cdb8b8154622d3bcdfc7422400d8ce5a938eb02dac3fece"},{"bytes":6607,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d08157eb67a3fce213520ac75cf26b9d82a1d1c0e6366a399baf84301477c8ac"},{"bytes":6299,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1d005daf568a5586cd90c73d1bd1afacd3f964125218a4295ce74c449d7c6624"},{"bytes":2730,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"285ee654f3eec203eb1c432c8718ccff983658d535fb13d58d28bdb86b777306"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"17ea6a689e7bc22f203ddb963be3a5bf717de18f2c80d4b5b0a096796e756fce"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3a5fd6eda9c7321d8dd0121ba15f15b72120f759e1907757bcf6e0777ea4417d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102481"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102481
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102481

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
1d005daf568a5586cd90c73d1bd1afacd3f964125218a4295ce74c449d7c6624

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102481, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102481.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102481" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102481" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102481 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102481 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102481 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102481 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102481", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 905 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16674, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2dfd049aebc0f28a2cdb8b8154622d3bcdfc7422400d8ce5a938eb02dac3fece" }, { "bytes": 6607, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d08157eb67a3fce213520ac75cf26b9d82a1d1c0e6366a399baf84301477c8ac" }, { "bytes": 6299, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1d005daf568a5586cd90c73d1bd1afacd3f964125218a4295ce74c449d7c6624" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102481/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102481", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7730-b745-fc5b7e7ad536" } rv1cOO87Ax+QQAE4udZsx6nqOJRVpe7gJqSXkwIQR+w7iKBc1dKYV393pLVBGVcEApVaMBIPC140RMpARyBrBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: rv1cOO87Ax+QQAE4udZsx6nqOJRVpe7gJqSXkwIQR+w7iKBc1dKYV393pLVBGVcEApVaMBIPC140RMpARyBrBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17482,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c9575388bcc41cdfc717ee00bb1f0973b8e5a328181197f6c943575b79273021"},{"bytes":7305,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"eec1a7127640f86eaad31c2139efbefcd51f4a372d986e9082f37454e3c93657"},{"bytes":6994,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7bf7bf873fb4b4cafacbe3928e44e371d46c4d32b1992efd1b95c6fcb038be34"},{"bytes":2740,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"385200a5d2a2df2ee5b7fc328b37c295337469025d42ec59068188d0ddee2d2d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"4aac769cc42b7852fa09b69b8806849031317ba21d49e47b47363656a6798c69"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1f9e1570aff86bbe3eb1d1ce29e01ac52a28452286e4ef583720718ca023af37"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102482"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102482
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102482

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7bf7bf873fb4b4cafacbe3928e44e371d46c4d32b1992efd1b95c6fcb038be34

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102482, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102482.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102482" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102482" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102482 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102482 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102482 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102482 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102482", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17482, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c9575388bcc41cdfc717ee00bb1f0973b8e5a328181197f6c943575b79273021" }, { "bytes": 7305, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "eec1a7127640f86eaad31c2139efbefcd51f4a372d986e9082f37454e3c93657" }, { "bytes": 6994, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7bf7bf873fb4b4cafacbe3928e44e371d46c4d32b1992efd1b95c6fcb038be34" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102482/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102482", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7074-952f-2101fdcd83aa" } PQNR4sdTwuhMLZL0i7TB01HCLCJahiFds86U/aJcr967e96BNzyZt+cu1sijTOFeFEvV2nY+vbLe8LKa4qYnAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: PQNR4sdTwuhMLZL0i7TB01HCLCJahiFds86U/aJcr967e96BNzyZt+cu1sijTOFeFEvV2nY+vbLe8LKa4qYnAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17229,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5d3631fbba35563355ce565a18e0206183b9f568e112089c4cbabe4b28688b89"},{"bytes":7095,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"789a0be672cdb3da30235478921374650b19b33153f5c42e6c62686f533a00c2"},{"bytes":6784,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"36dd4aa5f8c37b1d366e39f9ef7af795a33a684c0b122e41b38b67276106042a"},{"bytes":2739,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"48e99f6701d4ee166db0c13bebe8f34df7727f66049ff2756fac5aa2ee861b6f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6ecaa0be6c5a765e89a8c345108ba3219d2ad493dedae09abcbbd3ccc7d7c277"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"67c33465b26c1a40e0fb6c7ea97e615180226fb18f9cebb7648cf41c2dfefa8f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102483"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102483
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102483

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
36dd4aa5f8c37b1d366e39f9ef7af795a33a684c0b122e41b38b67276106042a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102483, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102483.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102483" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102483" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102483 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102483 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102483 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102483 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102484

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
297b9aadcc1066b5cb1792c00b7fa324f8db4fe2e504c776d3693a5000887a15

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102484, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102484.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102484" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102484" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102484 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102484 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102484 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102484 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102485

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2c5e9300b4660e4897858eafc47f5951909f6753f0dc305a21274d3abd32d4ad

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102485, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102485.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102485" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102485" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102485 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102485 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102485 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102485 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102486

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d6ddbe69cc218c4d5a3c1eb11c2eeeb8b9e18060dfbeea5d4d6d8a3028ec4003

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102486, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102486.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102486" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102486" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102486 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102486 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102486 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102486 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102486", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 961 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17175, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "836230aa9599da7b265d1821f75b14278fd8b1eac5a7557278ad06a8afebb9cd" }, { "bytes": 7041, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a053a7a978b23ae3649c2a6b0d0ef1db11a4dfbd6159774aa2e40f1e44b7eeee" }, { "bytes": 6730, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d6ddbe69cc218c4d5a3c1eb11c2eeeb8b9e18060dfbeea5d4d6d8a3028ec4003" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102486/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102486", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7104-a50d-1ecaf00f10a4" } o9YRekT7cesttefj9IPlxV9GmbLhHZ3r8z628xTTikdpjA5N7LXtWOBncq5EJxSMIZBOxDLyEt3fri8Wy1hsDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: o9YRekT7cesttefj9IPlxV9GmbLhHZ3r8z628xTTikdpjA5N7LXtWOBncq5EJxSMIZBOxDLyEt3fri8Wy1hsDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16374,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2a214fad32ffd8e573e6efa47f9134b9fc2f80e5185be31d59af3760a9c2946d"},{"bytes":6355,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"fe777645add3ee25a899fa975968320bd306c3dbc9e1e3e038cb2df84409bab4"},{"bytes":6045,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ef2e69c4a4889c274139c24f6143b24cdae308f4afa4059d4f4c8a4020b072bc"},{"bytes":2743,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c7530ead31e7b0c0f4efcbd302f416cf66a33a4381a3b07ab80b646c52b053a2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"877880f2b06c41ed3d84c43c78c5efdcc6e84d8dde564724230b1b5b22bc2164"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7bf6345377164b9da829f6abdae83ffb044e58092e6b9264796c41b0d1ed1db8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102487"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102487
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102487

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ef2e69c4a4889c274139c24f6143b24cdae308f4afa4059d4f4c8a4020b072bc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102487, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102487.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102487" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102487" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102487 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102487 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102487 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102487 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102487", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16374, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2a214fad32ffd8e573e6efa47f9134b9fc2f80e5185be31d59af3760a9c2946d" }, { "bytes": 6355, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "fe777645add3ee25a899fa975968320bd306c3dbc9e1e3e038cb2df84409bab4" }, { "bytes": 6045, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ef2e69c4a4889c274139c24f6143b24cdae308f4afa4059d4f4c8a4020b072bc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102487/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102487", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7975-8390-1e9c0a3ac639" } gpN5dg7hQIUpy0z24DExtraJFkDQHzD6eVWvBow3fGabLXz+xNGoDDbm3fxr7/rR9Fv0X1zb0w8S3nrkA8c/DQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: gpN5dg7hQIUpy0z24DExtraJFkDQHzD6eVWvBow3fGabLXz+xNGoDDbm3fxr7/rR9Fv0X1zb0w8S3nrkA8c/DQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17182,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1bfbbc3d77a0b5d759a2a69833092ef95f0a156afc04f1dcf98eaf44f1fea9bf"},{"bytes":7053,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"48e9ab8aff2de802ad2ab08e1283ea402b1a6bb6d3f7b2fc44951dd10c817ac1"},{"bytes":6740,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c0b1819b7e29c5a5ce13f34e5cd2f6a70af7114ce9d827f077899117a490263e"},{"bytes":2752,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5acb08f0ca8933b615233c9b35129a2681873bf66c96e17cda1562fe2028cb02"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"4e1c864d5941330e4429e3d7def6f4d10fd616308187df0f15f817ef83b8fea7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"31ff1eb883428900ddd17183faa1407d78bbc6135719524e47b26cde15cbc27a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102488"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102488
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102488

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c0b1819b7e29c5a5ce13f34e5cd2f6a70af7114ce9d827f077899117a490263e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102488, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102488.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102488" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102488" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102488 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102488 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102488 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102488 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102489

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b398a102909877ce53b4e9e6bd5939ae9f9e01d5474f0d9622e34fc788b03a4d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102489, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102489.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102489" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102489" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102489 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102489 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102489 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102489 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102490

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
3988a10825834cb575cbc255586681cbb09260d2c03993fa2231232cccb3dc23

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102490, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102490.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102490" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102490" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102490 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102490 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102490 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102490 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102490", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16374, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8a97567b43a58b6af487bf74600429e9f1fea7bfb018a9cdaca90a73e658de52" }, { "bytes": 6355, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "397705618e730efb82e2508d5a548b6699f05a66d7bf81fb5661fdbd40fa992a" }, { "bytes": 6045, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3988a10825834cb575cbc255586681cbb09260d2c03993fa2231232cccb3dc23" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102490/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102490", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7b63-99dc-44ac2655036e" } MG2hVFMaAvPXCMxk77gU29cPZaO1pq3a9u+u2UjqV7ptF5iJqDSJ7Z18C3aif4aAXJKqSeF1k9svxAjQAGBwCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: MG2hVFMaAvPXCMxk77gU29cPZaO1pq3a9u+u2UjqV7ptF5iJqDSJ7Z18C3aif4aAXJKqSeF1k9svxAjQAGBwCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17182,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2e5f7b4bd95d462e53934bcbeb198fa1234ad55fd7ef64ce2de423a54f51765b"},{"bytes":7053,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4191d5bedd23c7203298a0e9de3c83c6a741ccad540a693e083e9131a9b16ab4"},{"bytes":6740,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"27d55f08a086988d74ff87fe3993b85f651b5f4812ee56326a16eca8a2559e17"},{"bytes":2752,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c701d5ab1800e339b95d87db536a658e8142b802f65bc3d64b8e36898928b952"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"18a67bcab81e08f8cc98f45f9ce019c1e467ceed2c671139fb9a734b21d9f496"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cc42765fe679ed544b26d8e046cb45b077ca0b238fe3d74e7a99b989560c326b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102491"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102491
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102491

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
27d55f08a086988d74ff87fe3993b85f651b5f4812ee56326a16eca8a2559e17

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102491, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102491.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102491" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102491" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102491 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102491 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102491 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102491 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102491", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17182, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2e5f7b4bd95d462e53934bcbeb198fa1234ad55fd7ef64ce2de423a54f51765b" }, { "bytes": 7053, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4191d5bedd23c7203298a0e9de3c83c6a741ccad540a693e083e9131a9b16ab4" }, { "bytes": 6740, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "27d55f08a086988d74ff87fe3993b85f651b5f4812ee56326a16eca8a2559e17" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102491/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102491", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-773c-9373-f78aea86c962" } CPeu8PdymrXsQXhE6/dJzJR9zge5jQs7JMSSC2VgaJY/bqdztWDfwJ/11mXrGgt34av46pWZH3gc9hryLi37CA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: CPeu8PdymrXsQXhE6/dJzJR9zge5jQs7JMSSC2VgaJY/bqdztWDfwJ/11mXrGgt34av46pWZH3gc9hryLi37CA== {"files":[{"bytes":16929,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2d0ca584bd5d38ccf9dcace02efdec27f4d004a9166cfc9d094816ff38f76449"},{"bytes":6843,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"466817fabba84aab331f3a1482e43d25473699a055ebec32ae2bd70484c3c815"},{"bytes":6530,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"49ae30cc4872d7960bec4d2de6136230e1375cf1049d636f70faf00149be6ecc"},{"bytes":2752,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"957ad39f2da83621af22c7bf5be6b95c6ae9cb53a6b5c65f5d8877aef626a062"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7948e4373442e7325513520f07948af838db66ee87761d9196ed8e3566b74250"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"85aa36b40993f6a7d1b404a1879310a62077fbb928a5565c0ae8c1e25e0255bd"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102492"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102492
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102492

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
49ae30cc4872d7960bec4d2de6136230e1375cf1049d636f70faf00149be6ecc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102492, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102492.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102492" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102492" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102492 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102492 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102492 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102492 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102492", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16929, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2d0ca584bd5d38ccf9dcace02efdec27f4d004a9166cfc9d094816ff38f76449" }, { "bytes": 6843, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "466817fabba84aab331f3a1482e43d25473699a055ebec32ae2bd70484c3c815" }, { "bytes": 6530, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "49ae30cc4872d7960bec4d2de6136230e1375cf1049d636f70faf00149be6ecc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102492/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102492", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7a5f-8eaf-5f979b600930" } 7OFMAzQdouorGMIX7uo8YfDTuUEOx+3UhIvkBiDdL+lxGi7FIeWhX/sdIQJA7k1vGE+AnKIrR2r27TTbHBgLCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 7OFMAzQdouorGMIX7uo8YfDTuUEOx+3UhIvkBiDdL+lxGi7FIeWhX/sdIQJA7k1vGE+AnKIrR2r27TTbHBgLCA== {"files":[{"bytes":16469,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6ac55410cdda3a75424472ec23bab90d4bbffea03ab3555002e4d1900b79c87a"},{"bytes":6440,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"85ec53505440288b3e8a76e22b50dff4fe2882185d5a87cbbbdff4afbbad808a"},{"bytes":6125,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"115b241f1d9eb7141f098762af856dded7e483d1d40eca71422ba6502a9c26a8"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"81f24b2e18a469ed05a0205a8a9646184f5367ceddb25c7c08f30539ac0b496c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d4669aa2d7fab1b738dd33c7e20c356fabd134c7aeda15fe49877816ec775b7f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6c684314e7df8fe5fc13f52f4c3423ba2a170800cac1039e38a41b96148f6c91"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102493"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102493
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102493

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
115b241f1d9eb7141f098762af856dded7e483d1d40eca71422ba6502a9c26a8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102493, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102493.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102493" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102493" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102493 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102493 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102493 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102493 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102494

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b6827df005e39118b391fe15fb64f9866b9e349e69de88a7dc0ed7e61f2fbbe9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102494, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102494.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102494" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102494" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102494 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102494 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102494 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102494 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102495

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
0e1f215123effed24de238ea2942ca2b3733b3cdaccff15ef695151014fcec11

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102495, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102495.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102495" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102495" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102495 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102495 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102495 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102495 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102495", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17024, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f4719251b87b3c22dc4010be30cbbc84cd558d65e04f664e96445be4782c96d9" }, { "bytes": 6928, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bed1c0d087e8c476245cb11a53d5b27338e04f4d3fe0274dfebea8c468d32fa3" }, { "bytes": 6610, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0e1f215123effed24de238ea2942ca2b3733b3cdaccff15ef695151014fcec11" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102495/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102495", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-77b8-8416-e814d08f50aa" } wiKGncht+zyq8gQAShhFxRRiW8ONlMuMw2nebEGxp0eOHoak3jpNXGO5GDNsgc4Y9Ogmf9k8Dpqbw/XyVNJnCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: wiKGncht+zyq8gQAShhFxRRiW8ONlMuMw2nebEGxp0eOHoak3jpNXGO5GDNsgc4Y9Ogmf9k8Dpqbw/XyVNJnCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16470,"name":"index.html","sha256":"074ce6ce33d04daf2ca5f0e743a9783958fcac200f93170fea038660f519584c"},{"bytes":6441,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bdf5030fc489be249cbff42a8e51609470c17160b8bab260e770c70786acc05c"},{"bytes":6126,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ea92a78912edbb9c4121e09872d41527da3a292855721bdd262dd4847858ad8f"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f3243e5d446d100394da0b282c6b757833cdec58651cabebb857e2658c008522"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3cce6d65ce51944d2de16b080176336535ac38168ee9bf134b15fa02b20fbb72"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"70be0da579f3a7fcc67ee67522ee5463641a339cf09f7af6e3327a1c0c45ae3e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102496"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102496
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102496

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ea92a78912edbb9c4121e09872d41527da3a292855721bdd262dd4847858ad8f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102496, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102496.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102496" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102496" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102496 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102496 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102496 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102496 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102496", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16470, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "074ce6ce33d04daf2ca5f0e743a9783958fcac200f93170fea038660f519584c" }, { "bytes": 6441, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bdf5030fc489be249cbff42a8e51609470c17160b8bab260e770c70786acc05c" }, { "bytes": 6126, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ea92a78912edbb9c4121e09872d41527da3a292855721bdd262dd4847858ad8f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102496/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102496", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7260-8435-039cb761e6fe" } nxPHwNxGmJT+SXIlVLohcRxHo0XdOvbMyU5t3Ye38rK2bDLyBq/ZC+Ubo/llsxpZy29VtPaniXMIECA3IS5YAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: nxPHwNxGmJT+SXIlVLohcRxHo0XdOvbMyU5t3Ye38rK2bDLyBq/ZC+Ubo/llsxpZy29VtPaniXMIECA3IS5YAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17278,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4acb09a6f58f37908dbb9e05a68af2593ca0ed546c8d15c6166388dc50528063"},{"bytes":7139,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f536747c9f9ac0c91da95c39a7e1b93ff93f692886e2c1869caff3a0fde56512"},{"bytes":6821,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"38fc707b36aef393ab0d396d50e3d92074439fa26b19f59f1e9cf08b297356af"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c8629a72e8f29c26a8a792c7db3a0582504ce5d757f09063c3a150975782b736"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7c6b81129c45063d9935ff71aac4b18be0410f5e854cb776c3bfd2e3df2ad9a3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c9150d90191e1cc8a0766ffc0fd641f34efd85238022899508530c5f09fbd02c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102497"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102497
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102497

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
38fc707b36aef393ab0d396d50e3d92074439fa26b19f59f1e9cf08b297356af

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102497, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102497.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102497" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102497" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102497 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102497 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102497 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102497 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102497", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17278, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4acb09a6f58f37908dbb9e05a68af2593ca0ed546c8d15c6166388dc50528063" }, { "bytes": 7139, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f536747c9f9ac0c91da95c39a7e1b93ff93f692886e2c1869caff3a0fde56512" }, { "bytes": 6821, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "38fc707b36aef393ab0d396d50e3d92074439fa26b19f59f1e9cf08b297356af" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102497/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102497", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-77d5-bf3a-2cc84b4b8766" } I6eC6OTGC0jXRU5eas6q4WVc2kWsAKvRaSMiwQGZZj/TtMZ+aOr2RKkMVcmjIhPJSg85JreVafnZhPf/pVtMBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: I6eC6OTGC0jXRU5eas6q4WVc2kWsAKvRaSMiwQGZZj/TtMZ+aOr2RKkMVcmjIhPJSg85JreVafnZhPf/pVtMBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17025,"name":"index.html","sha256":"40daefa75da3775e01bc62eaeb9ebf8b705e5d462bc6d8aaad9d21c1c3e7ad45"},{"bytes":6929,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e3b8c0e0a01fa4d6faefe2553b2d9cf7b889e648d22dc84cafb953c500f27d20"},{"bytes":6611,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8957c9c27436c8e3dbb8a3c0ce5c02d06983cb5da2dfa0cbaae1c645912fc02b"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4a504b9a1869464ed57680c354519a53763ce457e53e324d89e9807d689e8bd5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f4c628684673292c99dbf8f6b39fc67fc52ee280319d1645bee7450e62e05342"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"587a7682f7ca89cf076c4de531f6853fddbbc1d92a4242eeabe63675cee876fa"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102498"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102498
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102498

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8957c9c27436c8e3dbb8a3c0ce5c02d06983cb5da2dfa0cbaae1c645912fc02b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102498, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102498.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102498" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102498" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102498 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102498 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102498 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102498 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102499

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2ba164605ee2cf7b372c872de84062d0280900832c439097da261bac3a00e9a2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102499, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102499.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102499" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102499" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102499 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102499 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102499 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102499 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102500

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e9e4dbd2c33309b178226a531a2c1613ddf3a73a219079307f7f37dfdd04b968

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102500, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102500.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102500" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102500" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102500 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102500 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102500 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102500 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102500", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17282, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d2644184685c62320c2f005404882dffd8ebe4154c00171d9f76832822b1fb70" }, { "bytes": 7143, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c6f67c5a212b8be2b0a7a063e9ce55b83998d7b6c688be0a5733461a244ba95b" }, { "bytes": 6825, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e9e4dbd2c33309b178226a531a2c1613ddf3a73a219079307f7f37dfdd04b968" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102500/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102500", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7597-98aa-18dba5b7be88" } v8JeaolyS+n+eRsT9NpaT1Tmr3EwqRDyHXKfyTYHqr0yallu3D/RjwuACrKQxCcnEKP1JGeh0uYur2HL/QubBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: v8JeaolyS+n+eRsT9NpaT1Tmr3EwqRDyHXKfyTYHqr0yallu3D/RjwuACrKQxCcnEKP1JGeh0uYur2HL/QubBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17029,"name":"index.html","sha256":"be6453e7638f5d853a77d852ef6a2d8abef7357e2873694d18d497c3c61017f7"},{"bytes":6933,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"319cb1f218498a30d9741949633a099c6e098d6d69c11962333c2c03883ac8de"},{"bytes":6615,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0e5385b49971b2408737f72052345ac662fa52bd2bc3e5659036d012f7e858ee"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"eac922e29377e22cb65162e75674317573a10102d0aeb6d3e93fbc4415789787"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"96b3ae4295fcbf872bda75cae991afecee8edd0ced8f6b417c7e898f5d36c697"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bfac5460fe0bb95ce6d6cd9f4f58a5a66e875f679833e7d0626cb8cfdb517ab3"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102501"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102501
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102501

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
0e5385b49971b2408737f72052345ac662fa52bd2bc3e5659036d012f7e858ee

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102501, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102501.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102501" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102501" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102501 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102501 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102501 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102501 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102501", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17029, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "be6453e7638f5d853a77d852ef6a2d8abef7357e2873694d18d497c3c61017f7" }, { "bytes": 6933, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "319cb1f218498a30d9741949633a099c6e098d6d69c11962333c2c03883ac8de" }, { "bytes": 6615, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0e5385b49971b2408737f72052345ac662fa52bd2bc3e5659036d012f7e858ee" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102501/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102501", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7a41-9932-efe7e31ed037" } F8h6vsShgjDi4gV0CDgAW1JmSp266M+fwIdXhMwGeNtYz2rG15DWA4pBl4TXWoLp75mOib4K9UIzFa4z4oykDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: F8h6vsShgjDi4gV0CDgAW1JmSp266M+fwIdXhMwGeNtYz2rG15DWA4pBl4TXWoLp75mOib4K9UIzFa4z4oykDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16663,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c8f5ddd2c2708f5c3158d4ecf7064ddc2efd126df20bc1b0faaf272117fe5517"},{"bytes":6602,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"578ad81c7f94057514043a50a1e189bb63c1d5f904d4110241dee971b4557203"},{"bytes":6297,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"859c4e142ebbbb71a2d8004ef06ceb1ed4299eac67fdb0bb251c34398cc2ec2a"},{"bytes":2727,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"13dc17d8c92fc7ec1eaf655eac449e55186850a7439885afe5d8abdbf887e076"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"db9d26107f65e0ecc5dbdaa828d2ee602af7eb04c461446408a364ef137247b5"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0b2f83ecabb70742b180cba39ec8c9410a4150e284a7b28a338e1d2d8dd9c6f8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102502"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102502
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102502

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
859c4e142ebbbb71a2d8004ef06ceb1ed4299eac67fdb0bb251c34398cc2ec2a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102502, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102502.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102502" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102502" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102502 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102502 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102502 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102502 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102502", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 905 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16663, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c8f5ddd2c2708f5c3158d4ecf7064ddc2efd126df20bc1b0faaf272117fe5517" }, { "bytes": 6602, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "578ad81c7f94057514043a50a1e189bb63c1d5f904d4110241dee971b4557203" }, { "bytes": 6297, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "859c4e142ebbbb71a2d8004ef06ceb1ed4299eac67fdb0bb251c34398cc2ec2a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102502/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102502", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7059-a77f-88640d2d1079" } nYRKio7qi8Ej6rjQjdXEc5a3KFMd/W0cwIfIAxEIDo0xPWCij3WAEDMNLJpxu3WYTgdswry02bz+nK1kM1ZKAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: nYRKio7qi8Ej6rjQjdXEc5a3KFMd/W0cwIfIAxEIDo0xPWCij3WAEDMNLJpxu3WYTgdswry02bz+nK1kM1ZKAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17471,"name":"index.html","sha256":"de0c3e2ba0f3e27a1c43cda98aa941f148a01316819fd7f2a64565a7a45447c1"},{"bytes":7300,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"158f2a2f307cc1f6a91507d054249c44e0e6c6f3230a34dcdafacb093830eccf"},{"bytes":6992,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c7054182ea593992f88a0a8ecb13a5d434d3212293e19a13816cce54d007ab79"},{"bytes":2737,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"26521abf5d2f981ded292bf2eeb5e34e0119fcc13a79dc268c962023d581cc72"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"456df5838f6537530408ffc14a8c0358af80433f3063c21d4eaea5d980987d32"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a9e5ada609fd8f5dedb5dd0150f90f204961496b30f5b416fccd068466639074"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102503"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102503
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102503

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c7054182ea593992f88a0a8ecb13a5d434d3212293e19a13816cce54d007ab79

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102503, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102503.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102503" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102503" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102503 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102503 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102503 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102503 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102503", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17471, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "de0c3e2ba0f3e27a1c43cda98aa941f148a01316819fd7f2a64565a7a45447c1" }, { "bytes": 7300, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "158f2a2f307cc1f6a91507d054249c44e0e6c6f3230a34dcdafacb093830eccf" }, { "bytes": 6992, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c7054182ea593992f88a0a8ecb13a5d434d3212293e19a13816cce54d007ab79" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102503/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102503", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-743b-970b-60cc9caa6288" } IGhZHGTY2AQOGs8cLHNMBlO9Gyy6cYVZ8lnr/P2BntpFVlmtnnmwpYYb3yCLJYrJ2GoGuEvTkwTVEmw7B/1nBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: IGhZHGTY2AQOGs8cLHNMBlO9Gyy6cYVZ8lnr/P2BntpFVlmtnnmwpYYb3yCLJYrJ2GoGuEvTkwTVEmw7B/1nBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17218,"name":"index.html","sha256":"811c1cee262a46eaf39fa8e43e138ae2e51f766fa372f50e3f394d3e4d7a257d"},{"bytes":7090,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"35dc627fa9fbcc8631f20b4ef96c9140390720129c83b66d20f5723301007d63"},{"bytes":6782,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5ec3c8028ba41a14df0e83dc9838095ff52e10f0ddc1c3c86ca5c7697f9f7bd4"},{"bytes":2736,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0231ba5c2189ea4208c562100491e3ff77b987fc8c269d5db6aeefce1f93bf68"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"53a2ed91484761a03ccde9dbb22e774f5141a2658f254fe94745471be549c5a8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"55bcc5a7dcdbb1e0ac8a900b52ba4536d090fb13a3827467736bd0a7bfe390ff"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102504"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102504
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102504

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
5ec3c8028ba41a14df0e83dc9838095ff52e10f0ddc1c3c86ca5c7697f9f7bd4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102504, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102504.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102504" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102504" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102504 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102504 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102504 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102504 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102505

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
23da1ef5eaacafa6ef83a00495a04adac168bcd524779430c9e57fcf78d6af88

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102505, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102505.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102505" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102505" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102505 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102505 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102505 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102505 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102505", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 890 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16609, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "86e940ab157e196c377747529a334e9952a68ee3dffb08c1af2dc0aa61bc81e4" }, { "bytes": 6548, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3f10e10f60f2f6c437581998202795f94d77ed389d095151aaa6d06433740291" }, { "bytes": 6243, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "23da1ef5eaacafa6ef83a00495a04adac168bcd524779430c9e57fcf78d6af88" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102505/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102505", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7093-bffd-c8f2b3641094" } StIEZiqsrZU83Of7v6X8HX4CZhUhcyelxPvTuNb+Jpf+P84RzwFYGcD/rpYx0XzcWS6JfFPq00mwMGu46EgRBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: StIEZiqsrZU83Of7v6X8HX4CZhUhcyelxPvTuNb+Jpf+P84RzwFYGcD/rpYx0XzcWS6JfFPq00mwMGu46EgRBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17417,"name":"index.html","sha256":"da67c952b734e6960ea1a5606cf6d80228343974f59de9ef09d69af1f5770a71"},{"bytes":7246,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2e2f1d45a9775ee342843ba7a1e3d27c971b2237700c426c71521d1eb30de011"},{"bytes":6938,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"06bd3b302d8a899f41178a4235058c2e743d2d8e78702b2f1131a55ca098cab4"},{"bytes":2736,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"06ece9672ae2dda2d6c5ecf86faf5a840966b07952c57b0a8f98433373f313c8"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d8ddc9a5a239b87d10242453fb2510d33c3bedfde6a95cae13bcd2e6aec33d1a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f2e646ea8334e400b44fd8a89af53dc013c94c278c953f53dd235bc98fde682a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102506"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102506
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102506

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
06bd3b302d8a899f41178a4235058c2e743d2d8e78702b2f1131a55ca098cab4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102506, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102506.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102506" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102506" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102506 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102506 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102506 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102506 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102506", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 996 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17417, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "da67c952b734e6960ea1a5606cf6d80228343974f59de9ef09d69af1f5770a71" }, { "bytes": 7246, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2e2f1d45a9775ee342843ba7a1e3d27c971b2237700c426c71521d1eb30de011" }, { "bytes": 6938, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "06bd3b302d8a899f41178a4235058c2e743d2d8e78702b2f1131a55ca098cab4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102506/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102506", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-738f-9ae2-87bc792b0525" } 2Dbg5dMpK4CKp9cMLlG+CKjJcBXOZTkMmrLMQITEsGZlNddWK+ovQoD36DcKHBGLxMTs63lgIrANVQeG33TUBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 2Dbg5dMpK4CKp9cMLlG+CKjJcBXOZTkMmrLMQITEsGZlNddWK+ovQoD36DcKHBGLxMTs63lgIrANVQeG33TUBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17164,"name":"index.html","sha256":"8bf91ebb794520c4cf770a1f2a8a2397dee9810726048bd5bc567db5e279de0e"},{"bytes":7036,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"08984b8a9f88b65c57a790fd3255e071601fc2d0cb96273eb3b0d2f060787e37"},{"bytes":6728,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c85875a99da10f11c7b802e3a2b491634732a25e474cfa216eca1e3cd670c17f"},{"bytes":2736,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3f72e1797ffa56eaafc7bf6ff9d51cbe31cec85f9cfd7016ce580d05b221eed8"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6c7e973191a7494986674987fe01fa8425cd78752cffefabeeb125d44528c76b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3b769604b1723bc776d485813dbb4500f1be688031204ef9a1ad3cc7dfc753b9"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102507"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102507
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102507

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c85875a99da10f11c7b802e3a2b491634732a25e474cfa216eca1e3cd670c17f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102507, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102507.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102507" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102507" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102507 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102507 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102507 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102507 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102507", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 961 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17164, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8bf91ebb794520c4cf770a1f2a8a2397dee9810726048bd5bc567db5e279de0e" }, { "bytes": 7036, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "08984b8a9f88b65c57a790fd3255e071601fc2d0cb96273eb3b0d2f060787e37" }, { "bytes": 6728, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c85875a99da10f11c7b802e3a2b491634732a25e474cfa216eca1e3cd670c17f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102507/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102507", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7698-9e40-dac2e029b570" } /3llkX7urgM6Uxxy8yg9TW4KD30btxunIxxWIyc3JxG9oN78oraHcPzLB6UN6aFOEbgoKbkTCccwjwBnmttmCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: /3llkX7urgM6Uxxy8yg9TW4KD30btxunIxxWIyc3JxG9oN78oraHcPzLB6UN6aFOEbgoKbkTCccwjwBnmttmCw== {"files":[{"bytes":16363,"name":"index.html","sha256":"473ae04bf768680377659f88e0b5dd96eeb5e9c95f7f2418b0b3f70c3334bb3c"},{"bytes":6350,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2968adf0d640a524be36fbc0e0a32a460ac9d088d7e0fa3b5f33914ae84ca9ff"},{"bytes":6043,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1bbb8fba15c24a7a803cbe23e011302db24424d4d655c5861a3da6f1eeffccaa"},{"bytes":2740,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a113d627207366ca73047a2d4219f9a2fb322d31d2dc2e0e7291983de99f97a6"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b215719e13583259dabe106939f07dbc53f5024556fd1aa3b3645d1e8b287705"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b43d006bd445283f8e687c49a2cf9237745400d05c5710906a7838e210c48e1a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102508"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102508
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102508

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
1bbb8fba15c24a7a803cbe23e011302db24424d4d655c5861a3da6f1eeffccaa

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102508, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102508.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102508" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102508" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102508 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102508 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102508 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102508 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102509

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
f377f40cd4b9d9e771fcb6b91fbaa2c81c22abd8b3b9888820ff7ffd825496d2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102509, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102509.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102509" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102509" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102509 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102509 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102509 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102509 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102510

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
408863cc37568f90db28be9678ef7ffacc866d30a1ad292b2a6eaeb4da480603

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102510, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102510.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102510" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102510" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102510 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102510 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102510 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102510 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102511

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
8dcd4bc4c36c117c153b17625cf58ae9994aa71271579be511380aa26d3ca664

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102511, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102511.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102511" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102511" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102511 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102511 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102511 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102511 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102511", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16363, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6b196aa4710698530ea5af5ab240e3380c0b7288edf26ec05d92552f74909ce4" }, { "bytes": 6350, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0d91a20e0d8aa9fe282d86052ab535d24581f519860caca383662a3eb2c73896" }, { "bytes": 6043, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8dcd4bc4c36c117c153b17625cf58ae9994aa71271579be511380aa26d3ca664" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102511/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102511", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7beb-bca7-9974ef02d8cb" } AKMvrvYvvep6YruBWtQWgjUbSCaMl6xusdaTOBH0LAsXh61h8xdNi7dBZI19jyZFwpEuhlCQyPjluoA8Om4xCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: AKMvrvYvvep6YruBWtQWgjUbSCaMl6xusdaTOBH0LAsXh61h8xdNi7dBZI19jyZFwpEuhlCQyPjluoA8Om4xCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17171,"name":"index.html","sha256":"17f2a0cdd3825e805f6868d2358b6cfa414525c3a8f1e007c74b11ef7feaae42"},{"bytes":7048,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"760a81c345cfb130f2184163a53012e0ac7c03096b2894ada15aae0c5e2e0b8c"},{"bytes":6738,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3c6a90e99c15aafb61fe282ca36dfd064cfd35736a4a9b7efe0d2cb529fe4bc3"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1627fc8fa6e7f12dc9099efbbca5e8e670f9a24d35579f8295dc1fc31c06a887"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2dc994cf075b1951142258cc85621c138284fcb914b6ce52d9a81ff3acbb3fd1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6d42cb100fb9be6443d6842e56a8d9d71dca9b0ed35b232ed7110a7a4bee10e4"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102512"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102512
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102512

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3c6a90e99c15aafb61fe282ca36dfd064cfd35736a4a9b7efe0d2cb529fe4bc3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102512, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102512.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102512" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102512" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102512 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102512 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102512 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102512 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102512", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17171, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "17f2a0cdd3825e805f6868d2358b6cfa414525c3a8f1e007c74b11ef7feaae42" }, { "bytes": 7048, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "760a81c345cfb130f2184163a53012e0ac7c03096b2894ada15aae0c5e2e0b8c" }, { "bytes": 6738, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3c6a90e99c15aafb61fe282ca36dfd064cfd35736a4a9b7efe0d2cb529fe4bc3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102512/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102512", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7c5d-8c9b-dbbf5535a420" } JRBnHtjQ3j4OXJUJZUkdAHzC2mejisvHKOp20wVc8riRuZdFR2LLfKPIwPAdt51MbsUy80MJTUz956pRUb1qCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: JRBnHtjQ3j4OXJUJZUkdAHzC2mejisvHKOp20wVc8riRuZdFR2LLfKPIwPAdt51MbsUy80MJTUz956pRUb1qCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16918,"name":"index.html","sha256":"87369545c9d5f8adfd7b1f1b1ae783bcd8222e6faef7719f774936bcf2815dd7"},{"bytes":6838,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f54d6a6b7a9fa2a1a059d6463bcba3829ac8b29546d304aa130220bd748c4a3e"},{"bytes":6528,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9a55b241c0b4b9209fed3512231a58ad02388a88179a5daf9fc6c9b49a32d465"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d5a0f9f2f20e4c3a697ad3b2d55d5f3b3dc8f9fa53672ba114bee6253ea9edf1"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d42297a557be57c31106d25322fecdbef548d66cc3005f6752ff23bd124bcdf2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d84c128f7f4ae2077e7a43fa957a861a6c803011a3629c8e4214ab60e812dcc9"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102513"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102513
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102513

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9a55b241c0b4b9209fed3512231a58ad02388a88179a5daf9fc6c9b49a32d465

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102513, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102513.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102513" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102513" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102513 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102513 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102513 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102513 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102513", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16918, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "87369545c9d5f8adfd7b1f1b1ae783bcd8222e6faef7719f774936bcf2815dd7" }, { "bytes": 6838, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f54d6a6b7a9fa2a1a059d6463bcba3829ac8b29546d304aa130220bd748c4a3e" }, { "bytes": 6528, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9a55b241c0b4b9209fed3512231a58ad02388a88179a5daf9fc6c9b49a32d465" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102513/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102513", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-731a-864a-d238e3c45e7e" } cNmDpRmWv7Dd2CuH9ckfFhJuYTWR3cfYtfhVhEuQop46Nnt3X5X8W+bpak7w1yml7v3Oey/CTpbs3DjqeoK9Cg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: cNmDpRmWv7Dd2CuH9ckfFhJuYTWR3cfYtfhVhEuQop46Nnt3X5X8W+bpak7w1yml7v3Oey/CTpbs3DjqeoK9Cg== {"files":[{"bytes":16481,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9734a0fc93af6c07e7e534116545a47cbfa07ccb3a027b22cd5b35f3e805a10a"},{"bytes":6448,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e3228eaa1e983d16afa318d0c60a4efffdc5306b5b73fd155c3788d8c815a5de"},{"bytes":6131,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d5c6993e9b3248ad3c2396d7faebd7c3043cc071573b55fd31c88dbad3dd5eea"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ce199db4e9eceabe829a2be4ad37d7552e56a3a501936892779d84ba3505af24"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"59da060fe77fd598e0519407e9867fa8a98254984d71d319fbb51d88d62f218f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8f8d61b80dee3bdae027b07cbdd7dd73038e52612a289d8bf6ca61045657626e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102514"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102514
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102514

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d5c6993e9b3248ad3c2396d7faebd7c3043cc071573b55fd31c88dbad3dd5eea

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102514, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102514.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102514" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102514" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102514 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102514 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102514 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102514 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102515

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
5cc297027f76e027e75c8b9d075d71d2e84821f576578bef3375532ca92808d2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102515, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102515.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102515" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102515" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102515 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102515 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102515 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102515 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102515", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17289, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3fc02e58e4a91681353453937ed4b3499c08c3c02275555871c0c063e5a76f37" }, { "bytes": 7146, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ff844c11be2ec4e12d462950373a9ddda13f6857169d24d328a5e79564e84556" }, { "bytes": 6826, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "5cc297027f76e027e75c8b9d075d71d2e84821f576578bef3375532ca92808d2" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102515/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102515", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-76d9-9050-ebb1e24e3419" } e57+abquVDgQExkovD+dO22mqBtFM0FV7exVdNCLONifx64Q2fdstRcpdLz01QwBTeGfoJrLBgFcBjl82eTDCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: e57+abquVDgQExkovD+dO22mqBtFM0FV7exVdNCLONifx64Q2fdstRcpdLz01QwBTeGfoJrLBgFcBjl82eTDCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17036,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1230beb1029de95c7f994f61998ab8147d57933d7a2cc50a35f38898e245a011"},{"bytes":6936,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"42618589e774207f4c34025e9d33187e8678b93b02853d30c87fb2140a81496e"},{"bytes":6616,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b5b2308760fed48311973273c711d133e4ec32127b514eda1919f2b711c6c182"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"867827dd85f1fc370280789dcb64eca96f7d47fd51a157730e0934be480930e4"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"065dcd96c179d3eff4f3d2e7e1944d9584b6b25acdd680d79f36e67d9b64f423"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"de4619bdf0b3d36bea88962a771c3f9be20eeff0b6514655accfa8030330fd45"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102516"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102516
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102516

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b5b2308760fed48311973273c711d133e4ec32127b514eda1919f2b711c6c182

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102516, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102516.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102516" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102516" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102516 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102516 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102516 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102516 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102516", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17036, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1230beb1029de95c7f994f61998ab8147d57933d7a2cc50a35f38898e245a011" }, { "bytes": 6936, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "42618589e774207f4c34025e9d33187e8678b93b02853d30c87fb2140a81496e" }, { "bytes": 6616, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b5b2308760fed48311973273c711d133e4ec32127b514eda1919f2b711c6c182" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102516/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102516", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-72b0-bbca-1778ec1211fb" } moZWeNVxRasT0EYwvThvnBetdovRraqoEpxF+8bg9KDp9PcWZYwb9svsdslERZK4EprejL6ef4T2BfvEM9A1AQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: moZWeNVxRasT0EYwvThvnBetdovRraqoEpxF+8bg9KDp9PcWZYwb9svsdslERZK4EprejL6ef4T2BfvEM9A1AQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16482,"name":"index.html","sha256":"00a963d14e917442fe10b3c7d862ada8648069cdd9389a99222d8fb27654076e"},{"bytes":6449,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1726e6e829f2b3d1f47eb527623a387fad19e2810229c86c1245f7628fa3442d"},{"bytes":6132,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"31165a88262e36774979e5c36e337f6dd1b459cf364bcc845bba84d5414b7c38"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1a2a7c1b32e7edbfcc1192cd3e2bdb7993854aee7ab8c274531fc548143533c0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d5b19dbec3ff45f88cc58a03684b7b3030643a36a3931069097acc4f0adafeeb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"06b7876fb4a10063d8fe8a4748a174d6f352f044828d00040b3f36a429f5a2b4"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102517"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102517
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102517

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
31165a88262e36774979e5c36e337f6dd1b459cf364bcc845bba84d5414b7c38

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102517, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102517.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102517" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102517" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102517 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102517 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102517 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102517 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102517", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16482, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "00a963d14e917442fe10b3c7d862ada8648069cdd9389a99222d8fb27654076e" }, { "bytes": 6449, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1726e6e829f2b3d1f47eb527623a387fad19e2810229c86c1245f7628fa3442d" }, { "bytes": 6132, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "31165a88262e36774979e5c36e337f6dd1b459cf364bcc845bba84d5414b7c38" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102517/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102517", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7936-adb5-fc3ed7cdbec4" } bpKRdQmjbSn3zOel+SwlHOExdG1WMV/l5K1HXZlnjUG4utIHYuJwQnTrfOETf0Q4RShNq/OZeNxiEmwb4wHzBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: bpKRdQmjbSn3zOel+SwlHOExdG1WMV/l5K1HXZlnjUG4utIHYuJwQnTrfOETf0Q4RShNq/OZeNxiEmwb4wHzBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17290,"name":"index.html","sha256":"499cf652f7c1f6b06348595272583cc63f9afc5ba7eac0261d3a994500b8efb1"},{"bytes":7147,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c4bf131906c721023dbf4885c23432e881f8f552f36fa7e9790636d8e4f533cc"},{"bytes":6827,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"092debdeac4c8c3c52f9dda718b89d21d16d0e848aa97cc21cd4c6b653daee94"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cf474c5637ae4ed18b070b7fdf2721cc0e4346b6a6192bede8926e9a2d67db62"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"da12ab2645ad933a6086136586a0a4495b2e3b06ae42ea5a09048884d2fc2584"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3259c885edd29dc0e7b207e23cb9b95039337769e8995cf039173d7d360fb580"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102518"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102518
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102518

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
092debdeac4c8c3c52f9dda718b89d21d16d0e848aa97cc21cd4c6b653daee94

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102518, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102518.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102518" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102518" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102518 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102518 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102518 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102518 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102518", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17290, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "499cf652f7c1f6b06348595272583cc63f9afc5ba7eac0261d3a994500b8efb1" }, { "bytes": 7147, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c4bf131906c721023dbf4885c23432e881f8f552f36fa7e9790636d8e4f533cc" }, { "bytes": 6827, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "092debdeac4c8c3c52f9dda718b89d21d16d0e848aa97cc21cd4c6b653daee94" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102518/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102518", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7709-b3f6-1340c6a5d6c0" } Nv38nfpVUY1KSPBIRQh08kwTa4YV/pTgPcETINKFVSKykEszcdOnPTlBWP/ZhG3YcQoPT5r3psR5Rmp7Km5bAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Nv38nfpVUY1KSPBIRQh08kwTa4YV/pTgPcETINKFVSKykEszcdOnPTlBWP/ZhG3YcQoPT5r3psR5Rmp7Km5bAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17037,"name":"index.html","sha256":"fb38887e4e86b4f3d6a8e3a604113f20d0d8271e46a7541b6493d2bdf71e4056"},{"bytes":6937,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6bf686dffea429efdcbeb9090abaaf5183f16b5a7d8727e48444568e386615c8"},{"bytes":6617,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1927d96d305c00c120979ac1499d6e17e7e757d13252afd6393ea0d9bd0300fb"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"6254f712a68afd0741bf4350d099f2fe9f4a3955d2cef8b15e5d1561e919f252"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"85ca4204ad3e936507c485363a3932f1cb22d09223d23711ed9b94557f17fff5"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e89546ff128964e481c309e7050b1ee0c2b42a69ca00ca74f8e57233e7f29ac2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102519"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102519
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102519

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
1927d96d305c00c120979ac1499d6e17e7e757d13252afd6393ea0d9bd0300fb

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102519, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102519.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102519" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102519" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102519 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102519 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102519 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102519 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102520

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
cf5cdf25771203e9f9a804a435118023025ed97a9c9545585b4104123a6729ad

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102520, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102520.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102520" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102520" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102520 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102520 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102520 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102520 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102520", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16486, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "31e02e375435a61153ed7f335464da27f8fa0b31be1067e5c1c8eb163f8adbb1" }, { "bytes": 6453, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "582f2acc27626f052b4fbe1e8de976e4f6bc7f0e499afdc45f0ac8baeb24279c" }, { "bytes": 6136, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cf5cdf25771203e9f9a804a435118023025ed97a9c9545585b4104123a6729ad" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102520/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102520", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7cb0-a869-2f591bf12f96" } 08Zp++RBzcuvuoAiU6I+pPYVCkrc35EeO40MRH+rq2H3RxvRD02shOJtPYWs6bv05D0Q3vlKB+lFSBqP9+QHCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 08Zp++RBzcuvuoAiU6I+pPYVCkrc35EeO40MRH+rq2H3RxvRD02shOJtPYWs6bv05D0Q3vlKB+lFSBqP9+QHCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17294,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ee762f4a4e6e2a3a67758bd47c5eaf1b4c1305bea80cdf2fe93d004f242a4c9c"},{"bytes":7151,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7b9b8aa637eabc624fd0b1b175c0370b0d8d7e457739a945ea04349de873a06f"},{"bytes":6831,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"eb3a59c9e44464fa9ed88286bce6d684d4c456547267d49610dcfe366b5a58e6"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"634d7e1035cfbeb5b9fd027702dd3c13b5d73a7f472791ff02bb075414896e18"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7a58060ee1c47dac5daf51b4add90b78130b974b4a25a1000c5679293d9b1fda"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"13115c525463fc10e3fba23d19be3f12678bfad06a0e7b86fb1897b3c7e87b8c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102521"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102521
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102521

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
eb3a59c9e44464fa9ed88286bce6d684d4c456547267d49610dcfe366b5a58e6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102521, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102521.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102521" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102521" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102521 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102521 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102521 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102521 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102521", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17294, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ee762f4a4e6e2a3a67758bd47c5eaf1b4c1305bea80cdf2fe93d004f242a4c9c" }, { "bytes": 7151, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7b9b8aa637eabc624fd0b1b175c0370b0d8d7e457739a945ea04349de873a06f" }, { "bytes": 6831, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "eb3a59c9e44464fa9ed88286bce6d684d4c456547267d49610dcfe366b5a58e6" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102521/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102521", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-766c-9bcd-64f0bf1d8933" } 6zqwJ2MsxLCx4Eqyb1HQS7uzmrwAzkuMzDdZyg869PtuczDRlGvt1Fytc/PCBTb1zOnz34uQU9ikjK0SsSnqCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 6zqwJ2MsxLCx4Eqyb1HQS7uzmrwAzkuMzDdZyg869PtuczDRlGvt1Fytc/PCBTb1zOnz34uQU9ikjK0SsSnqCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17041,"name":"index.html","sha256":"79ea51294fb43f3e19678c2cba2826cb0e9bdac54ffeee61b87bcf9232b35db3"},{"bytes":6941,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4c4939140c9b1c0e16ca30b0cb4c1e2c1e4870e7fa700f76e2247cc294009a40"},{"bytes":6621,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"49d65b126853d67fe4d83c222501e4778a3b1bb6b173532d498773ab9fa7649e"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"194c421ebc2c0e1ae5836fd94ca2c2465c1de2c24e40ecb72f9f6e34b7698397"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ff5a951ba6e18ee8843f68e5b9edc50d501847dca4de14ac428f627052d21b1d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"fa2d11ff920cc4ace48c0785fad39185b9d2a0c2b6892fcea4ec0b3f648430b2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102522"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102522
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102522

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
49d65b126853d67fe4d83c222501e4778a3b1bb6b173532d498773ab9fa7649e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102522, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102522.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102522" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102522" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102522 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102522 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102522 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102522 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102522", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17041, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "79ea51294fb43f3e19678c2cba2826cb0e9bdac54ffeee61b87bcf9232b35db3" }, { "bytes": 6941, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4c4939140c9b1c0e16ca30b0cb4c1e2c1e4870e7fa700f76e2247cc294009a40" }, { "bytes": 6621, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "49d65b126853d67fe4d83c222501e4778a3b1bb6b173532d498773ab9fa7649e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102522/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102522", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-765a-98e6-b72f0356e504" } CCkKIMsmDkciGshDVBc1U2O6zp0D3gzZs00RMrIfO4g6CLAhcsdqP0bmW/sQiJ58QO5XAdBDwswh5JydBjNmCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: CCkKIMsmDkciGshDVBc1U2O6zp0D3gzZs00RMrIfO4g6CLAhcsdqP0bmW/sQiJ58QO5XAdBDwswh5JydBjNmCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16675,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2d37ecfbe02a908d2c223e0a0f2d944c3603cc314fb7157ca89b1ab05211bd05"},{"bytes":6610,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e552b6437874fe5b8ac3fa97968e544a7bb5d0c85ae65480f119b06c510d4414"},{"bytes":6303,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d977347c7574ba04111828f8d65c1755b6801b7a0de3935eea9e7aa0bef813e4"},{"bytes":2729,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b445a23340f81571e8a6b37741e12b3c0e48a431fe10434f44f19abb9925f9f9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3b8263bc1665b0fc19a8dfca9afe618d9a48e6f9b181f776ed8b620041fdf795"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4d73357a730d95e98b07bf819d27f058176690058b2bb86ecf6a4b1a758573fd"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102523"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102523
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102523

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d977347c7574ba04111828f8d65c1755b6801b7a0de3935eea9e7aa0bef813e4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102523, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102523.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102523" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102523" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102523 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102523 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102523 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102523 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102523", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 905 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16675, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2d37ecfbe02a908d2c223e0a0f2d944c3603cc314fb7157ca89b1ab05211bd05" }, { "bytes": 6610, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e552b6437874fe5b8ac3fa97968e544a7bb5d0c85ae65480f119b06c510d4414" }, { "bytes": 6303, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d977347c7574ba04111828f8d65c1755b6801b7a0de3935eea9e7aa0bef813e4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102523/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102523", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7a68-8d96-bd7c523d7150" } kb/7cNmo1mkODsXWim0BgpzDgKSLixvfkajctIgW3xv4hxU3c9yCt4hIT2OpzuVVuhqsUwhwEewP9x590fLLBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: kb/7cNmo1mkODsXWim0BgpzDgKSLixvfkajctIgW3xv4hxU3c9yCt4hIT2OpzuVVuhqsUwhwEewP9x590fLLBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17483,"name":"index.html","sha256":"863cb9eb1eb0421a84ed04bb728a43aaf3b286c859dbb3887b43c50388427ceb"},{"bytes":7308,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5cd37053f81e947ae72f2d70b7c028e2edafd193ae413e16279bf617a405264f"},{"bytes":6998,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"aa78fc63241a7c325f4a1c70e79df2fab25521fd354232e93b1974c2f6423e9d"},{"bytes":2739,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"e6426825a01d08a8c0eeaf323137f3e539c091b23557488d33ffbccc1b2fe2a3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"aa73631d44813abf6a71973d4ed527a45bd00ac7d2f2e7afe65a7d0c357b0e20"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5c9dcefbc3b155b4992a23301dffc1b1d356697fb20bc4e0252354c26881cbac"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102524"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102524
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102524

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
aa78fc63241a7c325f4a1c70e79df2fab25521fd354232e93b1974c2f6423e9d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102524, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102524.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102524" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102524" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102524 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102524 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102524 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102524 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102524", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17483, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "863cb9eb1eb0421a84ed04bb728a43aaf3b286c859dbb3887b43c50388427ceb" }, { "bytes": 7308, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5cd37053f81e947ae72f2d70b7c028e2edafd193ae413e16279bf617a405264f" }, { "bytes": 6998, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "aa78fc63241a7c325f4a1c70e79df2fab25521fd354232e93b1974c2f6423e9d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102524/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102524", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7faa-bbc3-ecc247bf7e39" } rJq8W3T/yfgd8LzQTFfy91H1XaHysU1kQzmtJsQSoMlNAK9pa9yr6RyQQjH3A/3FFWQH6AqKNm4jBeCLlFZsCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: rJq8W3T/yfgd8LzQTFfy91H1XaHysU1kQzmtJsQSoMlNAK9pa9yr6RyQQjH3A/3FFWQH6AqKNm4jBeCLlFZsCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17230,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5f4fe92776f5f255ee94a530d68048c740dfcb1fe98616511f0bf0796340191c"},{"bytes":7098,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bd50d31c62fadc42406da00b613b2651018facf9b1cd72acd77953eada045f1e"},{"bytes":6788,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2cad4ebebc8f02af3b1e4545b20c2c62be4ca58ceac73f6700b2bce652bd6471"},{"bytes":2738,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fba4a79c853c22f8effa7f4b7863a0704cf6a7ced8a7fc60cf827e36e5eb1147"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a880598a7f4bcbc91f01ebae7d0233eb67d56b184066f34f67e15758cd7f127e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4bb1b4f0552e64805034a03fcdc32ebbd651140bcefff4d799e3998aeafa4d62"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102525"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102525
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102525

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2cad4ebebc8f02af3b1e4545b20c2c62be4ca58ceac73f6700b2bce652bd6471

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102525, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102525.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102525" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102525" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102525 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102525 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102525 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102525 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102526

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
bbeea3e572e77f49e998f1686ccdd0a675e677fefc9795faf6e089a84daed4b8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102526, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102526.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102526" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102526" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102526 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102526 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102526 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102526 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102526", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 890 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16621, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a247331e960ee333f92f2948daf4ff246c19ab2e99c5b7e581a1777bdac0eae2" }, { "bytes": 6556, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d8d11f912ccaef2e3d44813cf3ad5707daf9b200a47675fc8fee785c23ea2154" }, { "bytes": 6249, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bbeea3e572e77f49e998f1686ccdd0a675e677fefc9795faf6e089a84daed4b8" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102526/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102526", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-712b-84db-f4fcf366d90d" } vd7hvF0bDCJ6wwTfWsAEuvwbYz8fBrZMqB8+8e48ryqZpFSoxEo3meXkDx3hQkLDntgUQsxanrJkDoHqg2cSAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: vd7hvF0bDCJ6wwTfWsAEuvwbYz8fBrZMqB8+8e48ryqZpFSoxEo3meXkDx3hQkLDntgUQsxanrJkDoHqg2cSAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17429,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e67ba255db8fd844e3fbec02c2ec10c753c9b0b33ee11d6dbd41c7dc23093ccb"},{"bytes":7254,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"85b1f0e25a654c67350cd870a008503cd5ee2fc6a1f713936ba4f6864be4ff7e"},{"bytes":6944,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e68b4d73296579d0765190d839ecaee8296259500188d5abadf64bb7ce45e3a1"},{"bytes":2738,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f890150bf9a8dba45caf3193a9c493ace86a825ef8ebd2702d43250a30bd1e38"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"086e4d89841bee5306173eec973491df9385071164b666b53c588083a5cf448f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a8c20356d935f5d75e95ffac8ac0003c71007c028b8116bd157b900e407317c2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102527"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102527
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102527

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e68b4d73296579d0765190d839ecaee8296259500188d5abadf64bb7ce45e3a1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102527, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102527.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102527" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102527" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102527 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102527 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102527 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102527 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102527", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 996 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17429, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e67ba255db8fd844e3fbec02c2ec10c753c9b0b33ee11d6dbd41c7dc23093ccb" }, { "bytes": 7254, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "85b1f0e25a654c67350cd870a008503cd5ee2fc6a1f713936ba4f6864be4ff7e" }, { "bytes": 6944, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e68b4d73296579d0765190d839ecaee8296259500188d5abadf64bb7ce45e3a1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102527/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102527", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-76fb-92e0-31cd8154e7f0" } DUJTR8hYYfYS+aGgs9E42/fPBGEcPmSn4XyvGA8ougNqeGRfJysrGhiABuimtRvjqm17fkgD3+ckp18G2x7mDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DUJTR8hYYfYS+aGgs9E42/fPBGEcPmSn4XyvGA8ougNqeGRfJysrGhiABuimtRvjqm17fkgD3+ckp18G2x7mDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17176,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c2dfd68d7b7cde5b50d2393bfc5331aed5ef71a0755e7436d557a7ef16010c08"},{"bytes":7044,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6f480a4556c7fc7bd56fb33450c8372e937799f3afef3cab0d5716fdd24fd8c1"},{"bytes":6734,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a8fcb7f1539868b3cde8113a7d455141486da2254cae0018d86d1e99746c62b7"},{"bytes":2738,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2fee4e940d98d37a7e7efa903996d0340ced2714c4d4eaa990a721b5cd9a8d61"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b9a665d33de981f5a5a6fa3f9a2b327aad0c48797bda12df25d91ad68f88e56a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"46b464200cec53cd456dc4c6ba78ccce956cf93314a4232afbbede0e169c9d7b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102528"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102528
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102528

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a8fcb7f1539868b3cde8113a7d455141486da2254cae0018d86d1e99746c62b7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102528, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102528.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102528" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102528" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102528 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102528 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102528 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102528 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102528", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 961 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17176, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c2dfd68d7b7cde5b50d2393bfc5331aed5ef71a0755e7436d557a7ef16010c08" }, { "bytes": 7044, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6f480a4556c7fc7bd56fb33450c8372e937799f3afef3cab0d5716fdd24fd8c1" }, { "bytes": 6734, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a8fcb7f1539868b3cde8113a7d455141486da2254cae0018d86d1e99746c62b7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102528/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102528", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7c61-a590-ce414f541c10" } YXP4/kz/VvKDTUAfiZmF+lx+9pozYxIAWVhd3EitpPcGewg8wCqu7qdBnavqGRsMEy4FUuMeiD4B0yrI4H0WDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: YXP4/kz/VvKDTUAfiZmF+lx+9pozYxIAWVhd3EitpPcGewg8wCqu7qdBnavqGRsMEy4FUuMeiD4B0yrI4H0WDg== {"files":[{"bytes":16375,"name":"index.html","sha256":"19fb00a0842a26a767545e5a2c6549d72a73167681eb1e38843b2a9395d4499a"},{"bytes":6358,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"17493bfddd0794021143f6177b142767a8b5439612c24f3f7afaab441c7bc194"},{"bytes":6049,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"de549b04be8b3a1f872e4b7cd6f94e4935d4dd880e32b23cc69a5263288c8dd7"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"749c1ceb052fc0875b865bf2d4694f1265b67ebd458e07eb43d398ab75c75010"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e051c91249cc35d1a0676c837c513cbe30f5dd1b6f17b40f20129065b8048804"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d66b971089d0e758b05ec9c53cd76457c5b95c6d114f60ddb803b449a4b5c28d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102529"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102529
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102529

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
de549b04be8b3a1f872e4b7cd6f94e4935d4dd880e32b23cc69a5263288c8dd7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102529, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102529.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102529" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102529" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102529 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102529 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102529 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102529 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102529", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16375, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "19fb00a0842a26a767545e5a2c6549d72a73167681eb1e38843b2a9395d4499a" }, { "bytes": 6358, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "17493bfddd0794021143f6177b142767a8b5439612c24f3f7afaab441c7bc194" }, { "bytes": 6049, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "de549b04be8b3a1f872e4b7cd6f94e4935d4dd880e32b23cc69a5263288c8dd7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102529/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102529", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7ecd-a025-70badc407a5d" } pgRrBEsaOGRAitHuD9D6/f39UzvKXAf/DeLTGLH0Hz9+1r9KzpBXE6aIzt+5poAMvoNNaUpQmBYzxuv4CnvdAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: pgRrBEsaOGRAitHuD9D6/f39UzvKXAf/DeLTGLH0Hz9+1r9KzpBXE6aIzt+5poAMvoNNaUpQmBYzxuv4CnvdAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17183,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a1c6c98330e75bec965fd0816239fa52265cf86e6e35b772d1cf945559cbc6f1"},{"bytes":7056,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0c936e4f000172a7cbd5ac3705de14b2bd67254010cdcfb7658971092a44cd0e"},{"bytes":6744,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2d2a84c186595bac66473cf0053116a77792ecbd5ecff5b5f5d88414f94fe6fe"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1ba4533dfa902637a3cc31ec4d246898021182c92a9338b33770b9d396017d04"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ece597885a4338e1a7f60e538fe531c2089868ed054c531d41177323679ad6d3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"457c25030c42eefa74191a6a8a644be1b93a80bf88bf6dda9ca8be3b07010428"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102530"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102530
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102530

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2d2a84c186595bac66473cf0053116a77792ecbd5ecff5b5f5d88414f94fe6fe

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102530, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102530.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102530" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102530" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102530 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102530 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102530 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102530 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102531

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
abe06542078f2390dd6528d8391419c1926ce59c0d268d9f22264389ee165b98

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102531, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102531.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102531" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102531" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102531 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102531 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102531 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102531 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102531", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16930, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "fbbf32506ac77008cafa6835360b27d14c455fe762d39166b33420c993bea173" }, { "bytes": 6846, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "643f32bb89d7b95d671b93b3d139367f2fc0bfc02a4c2b10acca350d6ea45637" }, { "bytes": 6534, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "abe06542078f2390dd6528d8391419c1926ce59c0d268d9f22264389ee165b98" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102531/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102531", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7071-8c8c-20986a581eeb" } nekK/JvTVe1a9zYW1/YZdkP6urNbE/rAzNaYwGssNAsiMMYQYiopLPb8yAvroeKRFPHvRprtk6vr4V8UlHt1DQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: nekK/JvTVe1a9zYW1/YZdkP6urNbE/rAzNaYwGssNAsiMMYQYiopLPb8yAvroeKRFPHvRprtk6vr4V8UlHt1DQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16375,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c117b71a396c8ccc6035720aae8fdf2cf6d897ea00c94654e2bbdf27cf4d4c36"},{"bytes":6358,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7feda27ead0072c7781f5e2c568f2f83e04c0c1b2159d87e24228d448d18a9ec"},{"bytes":6049,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7eb479f8491727d2299dfd3978e1fb6ec1011106c60828220657845cea2548fa"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"e278c81dc9a7c1dc913c40e964b0ad8c0cd07fb1196c1c730f6126f8e6c4f05e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b4ae648078ffa0cb916abfe0e30b0ff2745df78fddd6879d9d4d64a303d1de26"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"63c9bc3ff77e8d3fe334bf4a9e2a83e0df23eb596f44ab046de92c14109de84e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102532"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102532
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102532

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
7eb479f8491727d2299dfd3978e1fb6ec1011106c60828220657845cea2548fa

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102532, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102532.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102532" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102532" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102532 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102532 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102532 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102532 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102532", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16375, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c117b71a396c8ccc6035720aae8fdf2cf6d897ea00c94654e2bbdf27cf4d4c36" }, { "bytes": 6358, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7feda27ead0072c7781f5e2c568f2f83e04c0c1b2159d87e24228d448d18a9ec" }, { "bytes": 6049, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7eb479f8491727d2299dfd3978e1fb6ec1011106c60828220657845cea2548fa" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102532/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102532", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7b78-9eac-2e41908f54b6" } KTskqr9ZF/feiMsRs7fG67Y1q0tr0H1w1a1z6C8k+brr+XXPlxobAfAXXckeEDMz41R+Sj92cZmSoQiI2ceKDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: KTskqr9ZF/feiMsRs7fG67Y1q0tr0H1w1a1z6C8k+brr+XXPlxobAfAXXckeEDMz41R+Sj92cZmSoQiI2ceKDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17183,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2511b98e5d650752b416635b2b0b07f18e627f17a507231c93b6678cd39d1a59"},{"bytes":7056,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"539b4c5991ab526d85a4a176ab378ca41a7156dca5ec67f69498067ac625cdd9"},{"bytes":6744,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4b88632bd0d15e24d4baf7a3631164b55263a48341068badfb277918f254b9c4"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c47893d85b0b4cad2e5c02a75556fb5be712f2fe22e7e20be1752858dc19034d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"04f3edb7dcb5de7020aa95df2765447dba48b6328b026329f85c5778eb600838"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ea25f20d749fde69730585ef11037740063f9ae4638562f9b5cc146d0450f94d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102533"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102533
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102533

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
4b88632bd0d15e24d4baf7a3631164b55263a48341068badfb277918f254b9c4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102533, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102533.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102533" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102533" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102533 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102533 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102533 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102533 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102533", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17183, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2511b98e5d650752b416635b2b0b07f18e627f17a507231c93b6678cd39d1a59" }, { "bytes": 7056, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "539b4c5991ab526d85a4a176ab378ca41a7156dca5ec67f69498067ac625cdd9" }, { "bytes": 6744, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4b88632bd0d15e24d4baf7a3631164b55263a48341068badfb277918f254b9c4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102533/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102533", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7a42-af67-9adf87a971b9" } +HmLPiqIi0V8UKubmXFnanRWW0NYI1IU3bwxpJfCfq8sGrXQeUL8eGVRZsHQ+2COEdokzMugYIxVJz/bs3btDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +HmLPiqIi0V8UKubmXFnanRWW0NYI1IU3bwxpJfCfq8sGrXQeUL8eGVRZsHQ+2COEdokzMugYIxVJz/bs3btDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16930,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cb162b4f495ddcfdda5995d6238ffd4b3fc454b4c6983a61de0b55e0d2518654"},{"bytes":6846,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e8fdb35d51b154413ad99df59351c76ff4a078238d3e9f8425375ccdb1e9baa0"},{"bytes":6534,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"02c43c1bf9c31cbfd7437bd5ef95aa782a3e0407f6d1976f6944d45b533b838a"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"00e067bba6e093ab91e66b2db7ef1bb332c10ec2581df9e40aa94d66d4d83209"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a93e5f7dcf5de76c55f2ddfcf089cb2364e7e40b6f0f99430c88345be67ad24d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a980122f7adfa04770a29f76b60561a3490a43eac460634612aa885052183b1b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102534"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102534
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102534

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
02c43c1bf9c31cbfd7437bd5ef95aa782a3e0407f6d1976f6944d45b533b838a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102534, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102534.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102534" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102534" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102534 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102534 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102534 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102534 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102535

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ae4b71fd86794da4e481c71066f7ccbce142c42179ea61e58461417335d9c5d9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102535, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102535.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102535" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102535" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102535 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102535 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102535 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102535 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102535", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16372, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7fba2aab42055eaed657b2d49908e2ea854bec909a20640b041529f69b1b20ea" }, { "bytes": 6412, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "beba14052e0e31eb1d0da8b462e39283f2cfe27f3210d422ca7e9901546f1d82" }, { "bytes": 6071, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ae4b71fd86794da4e481c71066f7ccbce142c42179ea61e58461417335d9c5d9" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102535/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102535", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7e9d-a58c-be873dc9190b" } J09VfJUNkdpWDn5/Dq5vWfPmhgcI6CPTVrqDq4jw/pmcQ+oyaFd1g3Gbrc9R9tfofDC8wpzJaSRGx5LqamDQCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: J09VfJUNkdpWDn5/Dq5vWfPmhgcI6CPTVrqDq4jw/pmcQ+oyaFd1g3Gbrc9R9tfofDC8wpzJaSRGx5LqamDQCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17174,"name":"index.html","sha256":"aab6afdd0e2056dabde19d705c4ecb11292dbda5aca0c004c199a7fee2b49a1a"},{"bytes":7104,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ef22bf107be54e4262cfd887eaf0b221003938234e6e4a68cc2dcd6eed49c9f5"},{"bytes":6760,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8f80bb12ee41c612d4c51b53f9b6e586ac6cb335e1c6025cf28111280e632da1"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d312b7f464379972808b66e1934c56faf2a3cff0bc31cbd92ce007fa99071c18"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"68767157ecb0776efc2756ff894a39b323d4947e75702ea976eeafed94350147"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b5a6493f930b0a0177bbd206cabe428c154e191d87087c184eae2db1817fd6e2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102536"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102536
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102536

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
8f80bb12ee41c612d4c51b53f9b6e586ac6cb335e1c6025cf28111280e632da1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102536, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102536.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102536" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102536" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102536 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102536 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102536 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102536 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102536", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17174, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "aab6afdd0e2056dabde19d705c4ecb11292dbda5aca0c004c199a7fee2b49a1a" }, { "bytes": 7104, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ef22bf107be54e4262cfd887eaf0b221003938234e6e4a68cc2dcd6eed49c9f5" }, { "bytes": 6760, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8f80bb12ee41c612d4c51b53f9b6e586ac6cb335e1c6025cf28111280e632da1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102536/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102536", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-77af-b0bd-20da0f2de97a" } VvnQu7W9zgWewgfudq5mDZpH2S09l4kqfUCCvyBfoeLp/dw97BJMxlTgfmqT+sGpCyo/RBGhgTXlBw6f6F/uCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: VvnQu7W9zgWewgfudq5mDZpH2S09l4kqfUCCvyBfoeLp/dw97BJMxlTgfmqT+sGpCyo/RBGhgTXlBw6f6F/uCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16921,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e992689f37c6d2e7bcb437b4b758df4020811762facfb927443cef2e024407f1"},{"bytes":6894,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"70ee0f364810bdbc08744ea967759d53b9aab7c0b118fd8d0a359eda3c892c52"},{"bytes":6550,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"06e8658fd7b622a7b4820aca1707f0f6b1127458bda57e4aadd58b91542758d6"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"24cb823ca13bdd89c3ae89534ec2eec3af0b6183ece51e73f859dcf07dd97786"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ac12d3af549fdc4bddb89cbdf6cef9995d10a05095f3565fa450553a00975701"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"54d22990f2bf1fc543c567363110c15293c0ba47d1804233db32df0e705c9539"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102537"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102537
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102537

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
06e8658fd7b622a7b4820aca1707f0f6b1127458bda57e4aadd58b91542758d6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102537, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102537.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102537" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102537" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102537 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102537 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102537 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102537 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102537", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 919 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16921, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e992689f37c6d2e7bcb437b4b758df4020811762facfb927443cef2e024407f1" }, { "bytes": 6894, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "70ee0f364810bdbc08744ea967759d53b9aab7c0b118fd8d0a359eda3c892c52" }, { "bytes": 6550, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "06e8658fd7b622a7b4820aca1707f0f6b1127458bda57e4aadd58b91542758d6" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102537/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102537", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7289-a67e-f71f59ebe0e7" } MqhZ7VFQnenfiBTaLc/HiTXt+dk0+stfbGB3KBzNCRUfm78GLOlxgsYDeFDn1ak285hmJJOnHYIAgwebG9XODA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: MqhZ7VFQnenfiBTaLc/HiTXt+dk0+stfbGB3KBzNCRUfm78GLOlxgsYDeFDn1ak285hmJJOnHYIAgwebG9XODA== {"files":[{"bytes":16373,"name":"index.html","sha256":"44eba3dc7f22d7487ae8a056b28f41aab83d66f61e53ae0a268e2671cb67ef6c"},{"bytes":6413,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3ec75cddd0e0fe51f51afd38981fa304030fd92f86fc35c2b1de2a7b03575be2"},{"bytes":6072,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"660119e61e0df963cdd6935aaa043635b7f695d8b804c0905e6a7a3fe10ed781"},{"bytes":2806,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"e00b4ec0036d3212e9400608547fa31fd0c66e998b1eee6136c9534a4d39c6af"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"4dc88f1c9b8f93355731560e97cc9b44ffec08ae546e03a20953c6e56db2fa7a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"2ce383ddf6e126e5bf1cc34e82ab1253617a89d9057fbc77677fc4c67c973ca6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102538"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102538
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102538

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
660119e61e0df963cdd6935aaa043635b7f695d8b804c0905e6a7a3fe10ed781

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102538, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102538.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102538" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102538" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102538 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102538 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102538 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102538 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102538", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16373, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "44eba3dc7f22d7487ae8a056b28f41aab83d66f61e53ae0a268e2671cb67ef6c" }, { "bytes": 6413, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3ec75cddd0e0fe51f51afd38981fa304030fd92f86fc35c2b1de2a7b03575be2" }, { "bytes": 6072, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "660119e61e0df963cdd6935aaa043635b7f695d8b804c0905e6a7a3fe10ed781" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102538/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102538", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-731b-ba76-dd029f99ed28" } xY39bbc/KfUXCdpaVjVGyGATJc+0fpZ+goq68//ZWtWWfq9qRDrDzE9iiJb+7461y6Ghm1XwleJ5HIfIl2zVCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: xY39bbc/KfUXCdpaVjVGyGATJc+0fpZ+goq68//ZWtWWfq9qRDrDzE9iiJb+7461y6Ghm1XwleJ5HIfIl2zVCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17175,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3144e50538c0c97a1545cf1e7095bbcf38fcc717161ba4e0594b22fc7b16eaa9"},{"bytes":7105,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ce600b9aa1b0023f6f2df415a9a3d6b6b26a2d37e25ceaf7cbdeda9b585a5b06"},{"bytes":6761,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c801182e81902c917af40b193eb570a2af3112cd1870f70745c699fe0728209a"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a88eed15c9fe01fd5a351131fcef83b4a6f720a10d6edcae1783c9d0555dae25"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c95cdaf88f852a6e70256339f4705a0d11fd5c78780d5ec0db3d6f62c3029eaf"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d712bb8439c36f0374f62b28b924b3f97c4f060174076d79f4ae51d96348d3c7"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102539"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102539
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102539

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
c801182e81902c917af40b193eb570a2af3112cd1870f70745c699fe0728209a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102539, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102539.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102539" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102539" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102539 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102539 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102539 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102539 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102540

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
b687623a6564377909171a0d885a855116eb15ab4c51a9b3c23f5781036f99af

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102540, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102540.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102540" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102540" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102540 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102540 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102540 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102540 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102541

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d8121da26105dd7a88a81f6fa89d41a9679d84639c391d78f1bf78029b7c0b2b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102541, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102541.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102541" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102541" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102541 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102541 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102541 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102541 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102541", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16377, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "282a7f69d995d6b58bdf7a87765385eabaa6ac581ae414f4eba4c4ee8469fbe5" }, { "bytes": 6417, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "78fc0022a599eb509a2abb946b33d86c1a5a25ef96136544ce93e2455e09a5de" }, { "bytes": 6076, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d8121da26105dd7a88a81f6fa89d41a9679d84639c391d78f1bf78029b7c0b2b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102541/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102541", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7932-9044-602779943a21" } WNPJ0xziJusFRgZew8FjUpsL6ckMElDEA3rExi41bBcSXJdarbcv+7dt8ccK1AsfIVlbYQLpnjtz0ge9bwnzAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: WNPJ0xziJusFRgZew8FjUpsL6ckMElDEA3rExi41bBcSXJdarbcv+7dt8ccK1AsfIVlbYQLpnjtz0ge9bwnzAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17179,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4cc9e98f34a1044d50d1c233a01c68e60aac3c65d65f58e25c13ad521bb9067f"},{"bytes":7109,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b911986af16525efd91424659a436ec3ab1b93eeb5ceca187860d7036d5ad47f"},{"bytes":6765,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"81ecd6ac74e0c10abc3554681c0110b3fe55c374b6d8eff2d8cc2ac3c5ecdf3f"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4905923dfa762c9487b518c368bbf7235d425efa0fe745eb347676c7c83b2c58"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0f6c947b8c16d0aedc7f10b94272ba8b480cc3803f4cdfc7216c1ac5328d7688"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"37f23a92877afbd2f3ba430d71992922d359beec9ca5ee42caa773a70760c265"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102542"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102542
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102542

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
81ecd6ac74e0c10abc3554681c0110b3fe55c374b6d8eff2d8cc2ac3c5ecdf3f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102542, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102542.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102542" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102542" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102542 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102542 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102542 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102542 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102542", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17179, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4cc9e98f34a1044d50d1c233a01c68e60aac3c65d65f58e25c13ad521bb9067f" }, { "bytes": 7109, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b911986af16525efd91424659a436ec3ab1b93eeb5ceca187860d7036d5ad47f" }, { "bytes": 6765, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "81ecd6ac74e0c10abc3554681c0110b3fe55c374b6d8eff2d8cc2ac3c5ecdf3f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102542/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102542", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7d0d-aaed-5a92816757a9" } 9W2CbCiEmrMY1XIV+zGsnpAZiyPrCKG0x5/TE3Gwjo/h6Y0ioJiZ9Cb4XVs5tBzW/2Gl9dPSfZGAVZlJ2tqwAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 9W2CbCiEmrMY1XIV+zGsnpAZiyPrCKG0x5/TE3Gwjo/h6Y0ioJiZ9Cb4XVs5tBzW/2Gl9dPSfZGAVZlJ2tqwAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16926,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6f69f114f1c1b59dc85dc32f36141e77eb81f1917b08a9fc65fb270c6d3d2fa3"},{"bytes":6899,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"57f7b94d9356dc0459c612b06cc871073023793cbb054f10995039dedf950902"},{"bytes":6555,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"06efc334b45769045ccd56d9e0c523a14f60728fb89eea1cd4f407976124a4aa"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8642a292924c23e0b386c2cb2d4775608e766ba148a1afca8b0ce40517a944cf"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"92b35195d5788545123681335a15a969c112ccdcba6e8cd6fef01372cdd0b478"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"58fbfef82fcd066c264dcf9b99a6f25c52ddcbf864f6c5552d63ffdfa14f4b2f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102543"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102543
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102543

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
06efc334b45769045ccd56d9e0c523a14f60728fb89eea1cd4f407976124a4aa

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102543, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102543.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102543" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102543" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102543 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102543 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102543 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102543 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102543", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 919 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16926, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6f69f114f1c1b59dc85dc32f36141e77eb81f1917b08a9fc65fb270c6d3d2fa3" }, { "bytes": 6899, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "57f7b94d9356dc0459c612b06cc871073023793cbb054f10995039dedf950902" }, { "bytes": 6555, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "06efc334b45769045ccd56d9e0c523a14f60728fb89eea1cd4f407976124a4aa" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102543/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102543", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7329-8a16-75a6b3d06be6" } it0OToOqxfzD/uBsStfB4JXLSd8J0VGPPNjxlU7CqkSJ/CEn+h4wB3W8b8d2qxLrFyJBwAV6/fSHf0C0uuC8CA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: it0OToOqxfzD/uBsStfB4JXLSd8J0VGPPNjxlU7CqkSJ/CEn+h4wB3W8b8d2qxLrFyJBwAV6/fSHf0C0uuC8CA== {"files":[{"bytes":16566,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0aca07aa8aeeda01e3a808ece8e4e9e737794f88bca8f8568642b7677c1fc065"},{"bytes":6574,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9591a8befba09d54a19e3b95f44852337ffee3c57f08d2ac81542495d3cac5c7"},{"bytes":6243,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b59a58727a584e68a5e1a88f37e77b91dfab81006c339149948a5835929600a0"},{"bytes":2785,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c6b051ba4226e11bb20f6ca5f26a215ec260982666310192bca1ba74bbfb192d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1080797015d1acabc7187ccefb52595f0acc615e1ff4bcf8eb629e089ad4a6c3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0d038e69f051e62c14bb7da25cace7cc5ebc3969bc53de6d6784c87aca0e867d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102544"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102544
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102544

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b59a58727a584e68a5e1a88f37e77b91dfab81006c339149948a5835929600a0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102544, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102544.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102544" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102544" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102544 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102544 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102544 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102544 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102545

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
6103cc2b79f31a86b8015ede0d3eb3eb644b68b8ae022673f0f887e9425ba36d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102545, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102545.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102545" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102545" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102545 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102545 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102545 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102545 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102546

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
4a9359669e567518677e3378cb1138e1e1667968c8b671d109746ceaa59b36c3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102546, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102546.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102546" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102546" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102546 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102546 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102546 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102546 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102546", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17115, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7e9e1ac7a5925a20112a0dc9a6bfc17ae4739295c7191dc248133a6efd30ff44" }, { "bytes": 7056, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6166b114aa7f241f9050a4cadfefc84a918d490884395be0ed56f5d13eb035f9" }, { "bytes": 6722, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4a9359669e567518677e3378cb1138e1e1667968c8b671d109746ceaa59b36c3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102546/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102546", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7c4a-b003-cb8911e0c934" } BVO2j1NvMveRRjr5N8AMToq6XWQiXzb64D0yuHuH9yt3YerfjubCBrdticbGYuMMxSxUrQYtMVSEWD7Qll98BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: BVO2j1NvMveRRjr5N8AMToq6XWQiXzb64D0yuHuH9yt3YerfjubCBrdticbGYuMMxSxUrQYtMVSEWD7Qll98BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16512,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7a4cd5da5976d4579a074908a23a6988bb0ec2e6598b0fdca3ba2713a6f3bb51"},{"bytes":6520,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c3d6e34b12c79445c2fb0d27880e2b93e940f1ed7c3c4de8a9018413e8a95a23"},{"bytes":6189,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6de567e9870c071a75602348b5ca291f226d9d3d569b35ad26087bccc673e065"},{"bytes":2785,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"560228cfdccf6557183ff97d87b55017bab8595c08df30e7d6bde669c5f4841c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"bcc49d3a9a5ea8337a311d6cb155b9583d72d683ace3cc4af0f1f86bb63ed20d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8803d2a55c6dc1312e86991da51672ef8377462feccd40bce3f906e511cb1f61"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102547"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102547
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102547

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
6de567e9870c071a75602348b5ca291f226d9d3d569b35ad26087bccc673e065

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102547, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102547.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102547" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102547" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102547 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102547 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102547 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102547 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102547", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 873 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16512, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7a4cd5da5976d4579a074908a23a6988bb0ec2e6598b0fdca3ba2713a6f3bb51" }, { "bytes": 6520, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c3d6e34b12c79445c2fb0d27880e2b93e940f1ed7c3c4de8a9018413e8a95a23" }, { "bytes": 6189, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6de567e9870c071a75602348b5ca291f226d9d3d569b35ad26087bccc673e065" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102547/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102547", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7133-8dbb-c937cabf2938" } SmRtmel9O+RcJ+mVd5pum+xTPtl0aKxapLQvI62J1a9Pew95Zo4FpPmc/FvhggCGJByhr/zVoxkKZWZA9Qz1BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: SmRtmel9O+RcJ+mVd5pum+xTPtl0aKxapLQvI62J1a9Pew95Zo4FpPmc/FvhggCGJByhr/zVoxkKZWZA9Qz1BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17145,"name":"index.html","sha256":"24f7582e1a16b616dedb8113fdcce3d7ef11778939d96ff19cff7fc1c54aed63"},{"bytes":7020,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5a993f25a0d3184bf87ac9920d5d9faf7c60ee88ab6b6b3207f6d964ba62cff3"},{"bytes":6723,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"05d77c5fcb563a1d475e90cf4d5d93ac2b1f10021d998497104ada97fc513f47"},{"bytes":2745,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"6a62940cb594d311ae4617c78a9a5d26e23f9ed1a862eaa84be04f045d0ba056"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"00ff59f1459b7b3115951b847712d0a32e2553d76220ef0b9e68a9573e326eb6"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"552f0728553ab8322acd18684de58c12c3f02c2b6a876206337dd503440ae8e1"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102548"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102548
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102548

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
05d77c5fcb563a1d475e90cf4d5d93ac2b1f10021d998497104ada97fc513f47

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102548, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102548.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102548" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102548" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102548 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102548 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102548 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102548 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102548", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 976 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17145, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "24f7582e1a16b616dedb8113fdcce3d7ef11778939d96ff19cff7fc1c54aed63" }, { "bytes": 7020, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5a993f25a0d3184bf87ac9920d5d9faf7c60ee88ab6b6b3207f6d964ba62cff3" }, { "bytes": 6723, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "05d77c5fcb563a1d475e90cf4d5d93ac2b1f10021d998497104ada97fc513f47" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102548/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102548", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7032-82c2-a0eb5da76e06" } qh+7oT/dAouclYy8TXlaomB140lmlUetEqELjX8Osg3qE5rKl47Jw9hboFp9I8ydAOtRAH6I9RJYhLobZdCRCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: qh+7oT/dAouclYy8TXlaomB140lmlUetEqELjX8Osg3qE5rKl47Jw9hboFp9I8ydAOtRAH6I9RJYhLobZdCRCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17943,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ffc69381c70745a79191d27ee8c86431ba441468de8515b4b616daff161d4968"},{"bytes":7708,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6c7c2a20cf409ba2ce3995e4073feaa23b23460179a91b9ff19ef54f4370ef52"},{"bytes":7408,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"516b9a5160e2ac2b9d166b3d1a5d134f52e0e67189d7d922005c671244deb6ca"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ace13742a59b77f212ec8ee7d7f90dd8bac11dd0f9bf24ec6bd81d1c5d7613d0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e7ef2ae1995fb85e66e2da2e3bd03bec8acec238e40be5c1d43f3c97161dbc2a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"92c59b1a2daad81916a9961b255f0d4849f970b7ab4fee26a5b87319fa38b7ba"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102549"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102549
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102549

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
516b9a5160e2ac2b9d166b3d1a5d134f52e0e67189d7d922005c671244deb6ca

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102549, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102549.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102549" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102549" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102549 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102549 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102549 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102549 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102549", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1081 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17943, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ffc69381c70745a79191d27ee8c86431ba441468de8515b4b616daff161d4968" }, { "bytes": 7708, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6c7c2a20cf409ba2ce3995e4073feaa23b23460179a91b9ff19ef54f4370ef52" }, { "bytes": 7408, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "516b9a5160e2ac2b9d166b3d1a5d134f52e0e67189d7d922005c671244deb6ca" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102549/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102549", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7c2d-8818-556f78786225" } szxKmS2tqZbBZ9b++Efk+qGRigJ427WV86BxO1+lk32vlcaWvt20vSb1U4tzuGK1kxlmlKwASekkrCJbnKAqCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: szxKmS2tqZbBZ9b++Efk+qGRigJ427WV86BxO1+lk32vlcaWvt20vSb1U4tzuGK1kxlmlKwASekkrCJbnKAqCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17694,"name":"index.html","sha256":"01d9d668802a2aaea1337c3319f63e3173ed67d43ef584b8751dcbabdaa63a00"},{"bytes":7502,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1bbf4574e39b70e0328047c155ffca9ee8113719f47c749eae8e66367becbbb4"},{"bytes":7202,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bf647239e9333a8d90c63ebcff1c88b964d427ef8ee0f083581af398f2806aa6"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"01cb8fed50737c2653e254f275b85b5b19784d479e5c0935ff114ca55f32a473"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"37f1e545c8a447ca947398a78de9bcabb8d1c2be1942e6915b274d9bffcd5fed"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f2f20f62d02938850f1f90800f9f8018c0b000ab9526970cf297bc4b81b35613"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102550"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102550
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102550

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bf647239e9333a8d90c63ebcff1c88b964d427ef8ee0f083581af398f2806aa6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102550, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102550.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102550" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102550" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102550 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102550 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102550 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102550 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102550", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1047 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17694, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "01d9d668802a2aaea1337c3319f63e3173ed67d43ef584b8751dcbabdaa63a00" }, { "bytes": 7502, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1bbf4574e39b70e0328047c155ffca9ee8113719f47c749eae8e66367becbbb4" }, { "bytes": 7202, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bf647239e9333a8d90c63ebcff1c88b964d427ef8ee0f083581af398f2806aa6" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102550/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102550", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-77f0-933c-1a0bbe1a43ed" } hEHzT0PtvavH8In1aVTMfQgH8xrNqm14i1xsVs7G9mqaSNc48k7f05lQaMSKYf7x9S2bu9TB041/FhjGG+kuCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: hEHzT0PtvavH8In1aVTMfQgH8xrNqm14i1xsVs7G9mqaSNc48k7f05lQaMSKYf7x9S2bu9TB041/FhjGG+kuCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17091,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4e35f50bc614d687e7b6c0abe9e16ec6bf3baaada6401b946867d42d3b080be8"},{"bytes":6966,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"761675ea349a165ebd8dcc7a6ab37b57f75131fa8bd3afc3dcc6cfb97be705d3"},{"bytes":6669,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d643b15ae24f9d4a4f5318ed2b9aaeb812f1d9dcbcf7e143f93f8172cebbcc93"},{"bytes":2745,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8ca38599af3a9da7f53fb186ce8c7f98a2b692fe2807c6b20286f3251bfd041e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"4d797ba986783d789ab83d7376b7470b011fd1aba8802958552c833d70f750e1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6df310fc1cf934d994a9275637883a5db03b627f5ef084640bda40a654da4369"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102551"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102551
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102551

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d643b15ae24f9d4a4f5318ed2b9aaeb812f1d9dcbcf7e143f93f8172cebbcc93

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102551, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102551.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102551" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102551" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102551 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102551 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102551 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102551 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102552

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b48eaefc46902015dd200540fa42f22ff84e5cac2d11e9307750480167d4f69d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102552, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102552.

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Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102552" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102552" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102552 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102552 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102552 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102552 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102552", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1066 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17889, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ad1dba35adf44abca97b8739dfeedbfc313cad4b45990e9d94a228ce157711e7" }, { "bytes": 7654, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "60ec9f4c08cedadea8843251bc7e6759469aeaac11d692e85ce303e434e18505" }, { "bytes": 7354, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b48eaefc46902015dd200540fa42f22ff84e5cac2d11e9307750480167d4f69d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102552/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102552", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7d63-821a-c7e76ea644b2" } eXZVz1sppftD1WcrjTRW/XcRadEJSbolu1ddrUmSsohrIoeDj241kK5+Sy0hdTBsoW60Sz1ngq4E+fLMUKIBDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: eXZVz1sppftD1WcrjTRW/XcRadEJSbolu1ddrUmSsohrIoeDj241kK5+Sy0hdTBsoW60Sz1ngq4E+fLMUKIBDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17640,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2713633f218e74e2f2792d27eb94c3b30752e5e58302c322a403517646fc6511"},{"bytes":7448,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f194ae058df7d5aa792f7e64d5c20c28676d84d2fa3f1297f1dcb438715335ea"},{"bytes":7148,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c9eb7dad2397694890440a339d288874f7c9ee22c29c02f17ac37ffd022a401e"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"74320f28aa51bb203ea1d71315f2294daa0213f414209e6e614f78d9dba71976"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a7675209590e80243e9a15fcbbd03cd77a3d35424c05e1e259f613494547dc9b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b554b4199e48832957816d5e8fd2c2e99580cf917b4f501d1cce1db0e2606fea"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102553"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102553
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102553

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c9eb7dad2397694890440a339d288874f7c9ee22c29c02f17ac37ffd022a401e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102553, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102553.

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Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102553" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102553" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102553 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102553 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102553 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102553 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102554

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
cb0200b17c21c5cf905e11742ecd9ec13b8f2015d66def354ed891ca65fd629c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102554, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102554.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102554" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102554" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102554 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102554 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102554 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102554 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102554", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16858, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7b44c0b51e00a1541e9400e81b29b6caca836485cd16e065abd70b44dc1459a0" }, { "bytes": 6779, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "471832573652cef6fbefcb17b801678d7cf7717fa5e71d58587857949065f6a8" }, { "bytes": 6479, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cb0200b17c21c5cf905e11742ecd9ec13b8f2015d66def354ed891ca65fd629c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102554/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102554", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7efa-a3a5-997083fc0652" } 3viqsXhOJEF+hht9A5NbgTyMwgUOLyf2LwVT87VxbnKBcb42/n5yns2rmbDH+j60dXQdlfErhHBFOBQVPrhzBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 3viqsXhOJEF+hht9A5NbgTyMwgUOLyf2LwVT87VxbnKBcb42/n5yns2rmbDH+j60dXQdlfErhHBFOBQVPrhzBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17656,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d22b47c0c94d9b518d1ad8b51d08ab6de5351b0ff1ee42759873b4c34f1aac14"},{"bytes":7467,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"35c56ccdbd85b7088eb6bc759bea89134c2f46f942a242c9474dc95ba50b7585"},{"bytes":7164,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"df23beed11cac349df482871e0a71b140d72fe6828847ea05edf2e0e99eed444"},{"bytes":2770,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a2362ea782d162eeb942c13b555be052879dc1aae4c2832244c404e86bb2881f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"57ece82c0da00ee227af4b8e19fc1f29714ae12506d0cc422a6253d092fc739e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"899db3f09e11836cc2a693a283014e3c578accdb30eb109a7ecc9bd05b9759c4"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102555"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102555
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102555

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
df23beed11cac349df482871e0a71b140d72fe6828847ea05edf2e0e99eed444

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102555, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102555.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102555" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102555" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102555 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102555 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102555 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102555 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102555", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1029 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17656, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d22b47c0c94d9b518d1ad8b51d08ab6de5351b0ff1ee42759873b4c34f1aac14" }, { "bytes": 7467, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "35c56ccdbd85b7088eb6bc759bea89134c2f46f942a242c9474dc95ba50b7585" }, { "bytes": 7164, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "df23beed11cac349df482871e0a71b140d72fe6828847ea05edf2e0e99eed444" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102555/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102555", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7ac7-bd8b-30fd05572185" } tn3mxAL88PcbYy6afT/HQ7U9fWTYnu0A52tm5QWY7w4X2RDi1odMN9Q+3l5/b+zW2XjYLozIVF3r//mOv/3aAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: tn3mxAL88PcbYy6afT/HQ7U9fWTYnu0A52tm5QWY7w4X2RDi1odMN9Q+3l5/b+zW2XjYLozIVF3r//mOv/3aAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17407,"name":"index.html","sha256":"601d6310c50b7fe2f6fc79c1f1dcfe27d00b88a738d73c05bce853a38a469b20"},{"bytes":7261,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a3e9c819f9a85f6c1718a622f1b25019e728ddf19e0e9756f811cab17d9d3846"},{"bytes":6958,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"73c571c8c360083f6863037fbcacfcb15465900807c4adc1a367edaba3469233"},{"bytes":2769,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f7bc3b1382ff1d82861eaa09753f65cac043d1dd91259b33df8aa49fa86bd803"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7c9ed72511e7dbd763b4b1d353271924a27eebddd0c39a8664be9a7df161265f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8fa37fa212749bdb124a4cd0c98df775c7a4a67c5b934828d5e3c6a0e502d35b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102556"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102556
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102556

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
73c571c8c360083f6863037fbcacfcb15465900807c4adc1a367edaba3469233

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102556, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102556.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102556" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102556" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102556 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102556 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102556 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102556 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102557

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b6379a083f9c8a643447343f8663dbab4d55b7485c75b14b77f9f521f8691e9c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102557, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102557.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102557" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102557" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102557 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102557 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102557 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102557 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102557", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16858, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "93fceda80ed53b1cb9f0b498157576e85407f36f4dd3f7fe913a126504626fb9" }, { "bytes": 6779, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "77ef8ee8997a2ead2749fa1008100b442621c7bef7d18b50cf36834463c68ecd" }, { "bytes": 6479, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b6379a083f9c8a643447343f8663dbab4d55b7485c75b14b77f9f521f8691e9c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102557/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102557", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7941-a7e2-69b8e72ad2db" } r5+lMIGdSc28rBAmxR/vWGMhyY2zyo5R0p2h5iPkzYG5eKa6tTNxb1YtBsZElBppU6ljW8a6avvd/sdOX5SdAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: r5+lMIGdSc28rBAmxR/vWGMhyY2zyo5R0p2h5iPkzYG5eKa6tTNxb1YtBsZElBppU6ljW8a6avvd/sdOX5SdAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17656,"name":"index.html","sha256":"8d4ee40da67aeed85608f10f4bc9fc5f0ff5621e55fe57ac268086bef1816ea5"},{"bytes":7467,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4cf405190294b050606cf98c38c56576ac9474b844d129818b70f1359f1f4e04"},{"bytes":7164,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"061891240edc59e10c8d89511f2cc21f894236f849d8cb32e41219afefff9597"},{"bytes":2770,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"283d5c0f308338c50aa956c3c9a90b9057bc575453e180a3f324d5f34c7a23cb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"cbdd84b9681781a9320c7c79d9f0bfde7f3f2e99070a21f0cdd8fdc874d9e1d3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"dd0c03b33e416195272f797521b33178d1c2bb7fa800ab1011a784ad88426e9c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102558"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102558
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102558

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
061891240edc59e10c8d89511f2cc21f894236f849d8cb32e41219afefff9597

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102558, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102558.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102558" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102558" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102558 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102558 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102558 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102558 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102558", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1029 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17656, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8d4ee40da67aeed85608f10f4bc9fc5f0ff5621e55fe57ac268086bef1816ea5" }, { "bytes": 7467, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4cf405190294b050606cf98c38c56576ac9474b844d129818b70f1359f1f4e04" }, { "bytes": 7164, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "061891240edc59e10c8d89511f2cc21f894236f849d8cb32e41219afefff9597" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102558/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102558", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-78a9-b38c-0d231add8dbf" } S6E/YcWkPQHjq10BJnkZ97ZheH0n/qWzBElJJRU4R1xRP/iSMRgt113Fb3mrbgFxQ6YpGC6SjMh1quARKzCmCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: S6E/YcWkPQHjq10BJnkZ97ZheH0n/qWzBElJJRU4R1xRP/iSMRgt113Fb3mrbgFxQ6YpGC6SjMh1quARKzCmCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17407,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c97f55106b07d8d308d35b705b4f61b522637cb69939e0c87d0e19bbe21f018e"},{"bytes":7261,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9df5733c731c34488d5e96c0cd899af45b7b528940438804a0f00e1b9c5ed784"},{"bytes":6958,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ef446b2b47f6a97b43017c77409be8f844bf426bd49e0a9e5b0cc3c3adcd67e7"},{"bytes":2769,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"853a05c1bf01a87955ada2e61b9cc69167944e6e731aa0ba82bc87985ae1b1c5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1db9c3e2941ff1d6c2b026e2837de7d3a1b927a48c72934520a14efb7d727d10"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8b3c8c698a7bff5893e67ba42afdb0d7795353a8256a24bf01804416b17d57c2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102559"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102559
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102559

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ef446b2b47f6a97b43017c77409be8f844bf426bd49e0a9e5b0cc3c3adcd67e7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102559, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102559.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102559" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102559" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102559 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102559 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102559 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102559 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102559", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 995 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17407, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c97f55106b07d8d308d35b705b4f61b522637cb69939e0c87d0e19bbe21f018e" }, { "bytes": 7261, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9df5733c731c34488d5e96c0cd899af45b7b528940438804a0f00e1b9c5ed784" }, { "bytes": 6958, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ef446b2b47f6a97b43017c77409be8f844bf426bd49e0a9e5b0cc3c3adcd67e7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102559/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102559", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7acf-9eb3-0572b1d98aaf" } sJRIwqTRiDDhoiVH+lGdrmd518y530q69EuaJDUU8gkya4mvrLSvkvuc6saBdZA3FGM8BH2EVrg529kd6AULDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sJRIwqTRiDDhoiVH+lGdrmd518y530q69EuaJDUU8gkya4mvrLSvkvuc6saBdZA3FGM8BH2EVrg529kd6AULDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16976,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ba21b1ca4eb9f93098bb554a7185c0714f2528767e421cd07f18d4a112365f30"},{"bytes":6877,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1297d6338bf2327ffaf53358bd21a36428ef80f34f97b77880b47f33ef4898a4"},{"bytes":6567,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"572fa062db2a987514e28aed12f1548695309087b8955870efdbfe84754e338d"},{"bytes":2770,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"235fa57354aec0a346c862507b23521d88236850c518c72ca193c8b725ff8448"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7ab62696b1f9dfb7e9032edace6290d82e65704c6fcdcfd47f7c1e2519657382"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"df449e2cb54770bcc0415005bce478bd42b86fb741d026d90948f6cbffb0b4e0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102560"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102560
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102560

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
572fa062db2a987514e28aed12f1548695309087b8955870efdbfe84754e338d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102560, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102560.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102560" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102560" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102560 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102560 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102560 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102560 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102560", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16976, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ba21b1ca4eb9f93098bb554a7185c0714f2528767e421cd07f18d4a112365f30" }, { "bytes": 6877, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1297d6338bf2327ffaf53358bd21a36428ef80f34f97b77880b47f33ef4898a4" }, { "bytes": 6567, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "572fa062db2a987514e28aed12f1548695309087b8955870efdbfe84754e338d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102560/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102560", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-75ba-a25d-843745612aea" } 83Kj3yahJHgb5DLOmwlexuIzqoPNSIHO2eiJShnkieAYnqD1ql5UX4gTdFpUBYJYUDgeBDO84fr2C1MVgJHODQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 83Kj3yahJHgb5DLOmwlexuIzqoPNSIHO2eiJShnkieAYnqD1ql5UX4gTdFpUBYJYUDgeBDO84fr2C1MVgJHODQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17774,"name":"index.html","sha256":"08fe4f80f1964c7924198709f919df39bc61e4d70571e402abcbc2dbe7bb9946"},{"bytes":7565,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e6226b748c3d16bc6a1c6d9687089ad3926e96e925a657138765bca7574544d3"},{"bytes":7252,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"85ec6abfa4582c9017f1dc290b080ab3282d4a40ee1d6351281e7bd09c8b7682"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"89cf6062e9de36e36d141c75b161639131a21c92c0aed8b062fd1a416faa5332"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ba13b8dbf511f88328c929467052cb65a98b877713093d097ff163ccfd06adcf"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d47dc70239256bcae5e189deae9a2730879c281ce2b1c570dfbc2abbfbd3cdee"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102561"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102561
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102561

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
85ec6abfa4582c9017f1dc290b080ab3282d4a40ee1d6351281e7bd09c8b7682

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102561, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102561.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102561" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102561" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102561 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102561 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102561 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102561 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102561", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1041 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17774, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "08fe4f80f1964c7924198709f919df39bc61e4d70571e402abcbc2dbe7bb9946" }, { "bytes": 7565, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e6226b748c3d16bc6a1c6d9687089ad3926e96e925a657138765bca7574544d3" }, { "bytes": 7252, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "85ec6abfa4582c9017f1dc290b080ab3282d4a40ee1d6351281e7bd09c8b7682" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102561/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102561", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7596-a441-9c5f1c9a3452" } EqYW+BRZSgCzniunnxihQtNyHSphRyqvmKxdFsQFCBl9/d89T3lfzgdKnqyffi0jgK4wHW+NqoNJtoNpMxSaDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: EqYW+BRZSgCzniunnxihQtNyHSphRyqvmKxdFsQFCBl9/d89T3lfzgdKnqyffi0jgK4wHW+NqoNJtoNpMxSaDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17525,"name":"index.html","sha256":"38e64fdc5da8abf3ed02b0614006798f5b6baaa104d3b4116f1f7a7c482fcee3"},{"bytes":7359,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"fd4a32852ea5b9795cd49b325e771934a4feb77c70711e6e514054fe38d357f2"},{"bytes":7046,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ccda29e5c68718e1e06f6832d603ec1c60f1296c4eb01d92f6b76a14669da68a"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"44e16169c0567bfefa82885209a4217bb50df87a38714e9ac711fd27b148c8f1"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a3b5b13b0a55e07343686fea3e5c63da7185ab72640b6af98e74b6de4334d8a1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"20e4eac4dce497692b8fb8798a272bf89bac0d165242e4d577d6e9dec768190c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102562"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102562
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102562

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ccda29e5c68718e1e06f6832d603ec1c60f1296c4eb01d92f6b76a14669da68a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102562, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102562.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102562" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102562" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102562 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102562 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102562 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102562 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102562", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 1007 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17525, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "38e64fdc5da8abf3ed02b0614006798f5b6baaa104d3b4116f1f7a7c482fcee3" }, { "bytes": 7359, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "fd4a32852ea5b9795cd49b325e771934a4feb77c70711e6e514054fe38d357f2" }, { "bytes": 7046, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ccda29e5c68718e1e06f6832d603ec1c60f1296c4eb01d92f6b76a14669da68a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102562/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102562", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7e12-a811-022da8387244" } 2XL+WKYAeypQBPyrSk+N1VnH959Nw7ypLNhZz8wr2K7NK3gf7iyR+kGcZFEJq1Q1pSva4Si6PVH9GBwxuy6pCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 2XL+WKYAeypQBPyrSk+N1VnH959Nw7ypLNhZz8wr2K7NK3gf7iyR+kGcZFEJq1Q1pSva4Si6PVH9GBwxuy6pCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16977,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7bcb5594ade7ca8f9ca1628f12fde5822197f181d775cba3668057a3e05d3a18"},{"bytes":6878,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4dbc5b5d803258d0879a8097713294d4cee9daf655e646c6d031a9848d9688d1"},{"bytes":6568,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e2ff1724d181d5ec5fde4b83f5cbbb0dac01d50f89d45524ae867071a84b2109"},{"bytes":2770,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"dc714c516a6b6564ac67a61afb13ea2940175d1ad8cd42de62d820e21a9750de"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"70da50754852c4da10dd3c807b448c7ece78afbb36e4f8a408abac97ad6cf45c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9933ae0787a4b37b205c89b4bd53ffd9ea573a186868508fc88fce203f5b88f0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102563"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102563
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102563

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e2ff1724d181d5ec5fde4b83f5cbbb0dac01d50f89d45524ae867071a84b2109

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102563, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102563.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102563" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102563" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102563 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102563 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102563 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102563 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102564

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
864ba380f3951659a5a1abc92f7451e7a2f3c776fd62a6a99ccf5a72f7d22229

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102564, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102564.

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Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102564" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102564" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102564 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102564 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102564 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102564 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102564", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1041 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17775, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3608512e73c5164b65938297139c1dd517a88570f2a16a49b83891d92c547e1d" }, { "bytes": 7566, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9371a3543c373d45762d8b1dcec6d5337c13e11046c3c2b8aef85127dd36d11d" }, { "bytes": 7253, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "864ba380f3951659a5a1abc92f7451e7a2f3c776fd62a6a99ccf5a72f7d22229" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102564/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102564", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7023-983d-72e4febccfcc" } sfqFQGZDM9zD0YJ3tKmi9ppIC+zkKvLbWnKeKLJblNqAIih0j9S8Zt2djU0q0hK2ynwDsHMGJVNRB+IoVhbxAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sfqFQGZDM9zD0YJ3tKmi9ppIC+zkKvLbWnKeKLJblNqAIih0j9S8Zt2djU0q0hK2ynwDsHMGJVNRB+IoVhbxAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17526,"name":"index.html","sha256":"20ccba427430e55cf7344cfbf11d895619ffb43aa59f8ef15af46cfd5a17b794"},{"bytes":7360,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ffeb43f7be1159f1e7a49ba056ecba638f179cceffd0bccc9cb73e786b11bf41"},{"bytes":7047,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a50b04920594a29edfd49d5178015d2e39ebb15f112e245104fab14ac4dddcad"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"547aa80553f2baeb2c038fab288f481c87ef02dd9d66e6b4e724ce632b290bac"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"cde0a08ba7866c4783a52fe68519975d981b35766fd783cad83744f670891357"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"46b11d59b533f6b69d17d11193febca8452c911af9171a0e84feda838cb4df81"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102565"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102565
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102565

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a50b04920594a29edfd49d5178015d2e39ebb15f112e245104fab14ac4dddcad

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102565, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102565.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102565" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102565" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102565 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102565 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102565 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102565 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102565", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 1007 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17526, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "20ccba427430e55cf7344cfbf11d895619ffb43aa59f8ef15af46cfd5a17b794" }, { "bytes": 7360, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ffeb43f7be1159f1e7a49ba056ecba638f179cceffd0bccc9cb73e786b11bf41" }, { "bytes": 7047, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a50b04920594a29edfd49d5178015d2e39ebb15f112e245104fab14ac4dddcad" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102565/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102565", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7212-bced-7f03eb3132b9" } FjGRE7mdLMye0i3Vl+QMbIHNVlIcqY58Bbua6zkfaScIhlX6Sp+DQXGNoMT6xhY11R/2fk1g0eU2bCgyd0DJCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: FjGRE7mdLMye0i3Vl+QMbIHNVlIcqY58Bbua6zkfaScIhlX6Sp+DQXGNoMT6xhY11R/2fk1g0eU2bCgyd0DJCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16981,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1648e9dcbeef9e00326986960da1a32bc56bb0a3f6f88156d0b6fcaaf4e67760"},{"bytes":6882,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2841bb221f5d6d0ab768cb67e742e32e761df342f16fcb2d7eed76073e3f409f"},{"bytes":6572,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"23975370293bf9f354c0585e7cea07a190982d22b79164eb9f07ad8f80117047"},{"bytes":2770,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f80837af5bb8f7c3223f43554bccfdc750fd9b9be6d089e49c741791a88c1213"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e52702966cfda60b472072c05a25bcb04af04b4fba409f80992dc6630ef05707"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0c6b6b516bce2f24b14133be991d15e046fbcdce96f20dee734ed53b94252141"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102566"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102566
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102566

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
23975370293bf9f354c0585e7cea07a190982d22b79164eb9f07ad8f80117047

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102566, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102566.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102566" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102566" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102566 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102566 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102566 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102566 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102566", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16981, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1648e9dcbeef9e00326986960da1a32bc56bb0a3f6f88156d0b6fcaaf4e67760" }, { "bytes": 6882, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2841bb221f5d6d0ab768cb67e742e32e761df342f16fcb2d7eed76073e3f409f" }, { "bytes": 6572, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "23975370293bf9f354c0585e7cea07a190982d22b79164eb9f07ad8f80117047" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102566/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102566", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7d33-b6f7-3483a2b236e6" } DL8pZYz03EHOci/duNGiovoChNDIwuCbYGKmMEloEEs/ra+6HmzmF67ZEmwT0/DTz83jyslDadeUN89lL6BJAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DL8pZYz03EHOci/duNGiovoChNDIwuCbYGKmMEloEEs/ra+6HmzmF67ZEmwT0/DTz83jyslDadeUN89lL6BJAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17779,"name":"index.html","sha256":"774094835297b1bd2ef6d25774ba0fb7fbcf8889147e6247c7b036b6f04593d8"},{"bytes":7570,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7576e8a6a6554e206b5dfef67aa7de3d0efe5f83697deb7c236cd360f6d33c82"},{"bytes":7257,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f2a9bad70ee232a860bbec3a3564797a24eabc0b53279b95692fa00a54494c4f"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a88f0d27bc05c03fc382f7c959c4a4e242bc6acfa3ce38c39ffb7ca834bb6871"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"17eebe726e5b67c743b007f51fad9ad7891a7bf0604d27c478eaefe7082e6846"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b363f8777be1add73618e40e2053889680fe9e4528ab7a54972d16c0e22ee4f6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102567"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102567
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102567

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
f2a9bad70ee232a860bbec3a3564797a24eabc0b53279b95692fa00a54494c4f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102567, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102567.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102567" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102567" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102567 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102567 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102567 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102567 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102567", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1041 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17779, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "774094835297b1bd2ef6d25774ba0fb7fbcf8889147e6247c7b036b6f04593d8" }, { "bytes": 7570, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7576e8a6a6554e206b5dfef67aa7de3d0efe5f83697deb7c236cd360f6d33c82" }, { "bytes": 7257, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f2a9bad70ee232a860bbec3a3564797a24eabc0b53279b95692fa00a54494c4f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102567/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102567", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7c29-b41f-4d74e1544529" } +4A8c783F6jjeXTl9HYSGgfclDqyvH8ggCyYFjtIqChCtSna4HUx2HVmc6Y63mBz1Jz25bAt3O+fsMeagriwDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +4A8c783F6jjeXTl9HYSGgfclDqyvH8ggCyYFjtIqChCtSna4HUx2HVmc6Y63mBz1Jz25bAt3O+fsMeagriwDg== {"files":[{"bytes":17530,"name":"index.html","sha256":"86aaa20c4781331a7cf43ea7081d99a0b7b5d93af2bc5c0c4871f91b51a4f827"},{"bytes":7364,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"08e29597d92eb9d635a8f7b73053d7f59432aea8f2de84b2a7e99a14e5eed4a6"},{"bytes":7051,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a0d1814f9ce6bf8a2555a5668b784f4806aa71620f4f2136efaed70cd95b6066"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8c9d7338a0f1addcc397f8e45673426256df52a4d1ddbbe14aa758d8a57599b6"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3d4070e3aec3cca04341c9e117862359a2b5c21f24a08c3317d07f9dc5532fdf"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c278b688f35e4e2ff331d31dd8463361f35daa084bbcdb22cde26780c6b6754b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102568"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102568
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102568

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a0d1814f9ce6bf8a2555a5668b784f4806aa71620f4f2136efaed70cd95b6066

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102568, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102568.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102568" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102568" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102568 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102568 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102568 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102568 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102568", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 1007 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17530, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "86aaa20c4781331a7cf43ea7081d99a0b7b5d93af2bc5c0c4871f91b51a4f827" }, { "bytes": 7364, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "08e29597d92eb9d635a8f7b73053d7f59432aea8f2de84b2a7e99a14e5eed4a6" }, { "bytes": 7051, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a0d1814f9ce6bf8a2555a5668b784f4806aa71620f4f2136efaed70cd95b6066" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102568/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102568", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7017-8173-465c78e6c444" } WINVip946N2n1PgYpokjkRX+yZcmc/8HuwcN/OMRUhtwA586sekds+af1x2uGqZevco3nJqew9bZtrAKVYkpAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: WINVip946N2n1PgYpokjkRX+yZcmc/8HuwcN/OMRUhtwA586sekds+af1x2uGqZevco3nJqew9bZtrAKVYkpAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17157,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9c8be6ef25f8d39ddc8425c4dfc50a687ea879a4f6abfa8d34e1c9c3871f0d99"},{"bytes":7028,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"470975c719c6f40b1830d5f1b8e47419b38ebf54a8d476d8a2ec72e9f7841d4e"},{"bytes":6729,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6a707ef6979a7884d85a35de7b34d7d32ad2fef70ac64cb73f72adbc0724c00b"},{"bytes":2747,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"07cca7f0e31a17d4169aa72e5b5d271dd5b933ef42d65e1444461f04f7d36d12"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f1c8e0b0517db85610b61deef22074381e206c73efc30bdf326650d5c074082f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"808e1cac76ff67497810c2d6f6c970148df3f318a9492e863c9e999bdd2a5d2e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102569"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102569
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102569

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
6a707ef6979a7884d85a35de7b34d7d32ad2fef70ac64cb73f72adbc0724c00b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102569, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102569.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102569" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102569" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102569 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102569 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102569 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102569 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102570

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bc33e531baf1a368e428309608494593729f928cb013014d91ef9930b2e28464

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102570, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102570.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102570" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102570" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102570 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102570 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102570 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102570 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102571

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
980f83da75c0f011247e7d4201ef27d47937b587dc638fb79d278147d72ff874

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102571, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102571.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102571" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102571" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102571 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102571 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102571 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102571 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102571", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1047 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17706, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "90f6d8845c46e38f868224540a81dabff225c52a23fb59031fff206961c7be8f" }, { "bytes": 7510, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "36c4b4d3559f0d51a68fbe9e8198eaf6ac26b007171eb8576f982a6c360636ed" }, { "bytes": 7208, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "980f83da75c0f011247e7d4201ef27d47937b587dc638fb79d278147d72ff874" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102571/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102571", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7d50-a3a2-043d2b26e44d" } MJuvPUq+8El1MGPpz+PWjyAzPZzSNkCKzxFWRUn1p2vveu7WQYxuNrAUEVaRdNXEry8iUxT65jnV62/0TX3SCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: MJuvPUq+8El1MGPpz+PWjyAzPZzSNkCKzxFWRUn1p2vveu7WQYxuNrAUEVaRdNXEry8iUxT65jnV62/0TX3SCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17103,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4da634dab8a1eb0cf8767822f5a95a7fe469c6e9c80307ef0b1a4629bb648af3"},{"bytes":6974,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"82e53acc27a748ea0117328b2141e7aed9810d5f16118c64ad598a9c010b2351"},{"bytes":6675,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"99b7cfe68617255065eaec7df9c37f53842a81086f84e7a29f19478a74e1200b"},{"bytes":2747,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"e78813223e4668a74cbd5725a1d87f429c16ebebf6a721c375b30027ac9480b8"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"84e316267e95c001d1a6a2edf6f0966c8659eb19337cf5bc142c28e6ab4d426b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"883c8f47a439fed1f5d189d5ceebc9ac1d69ba164b4c983cc16e2c6a0c5988f7"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102572"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102572
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102572

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
99b7cfe68617255065eaec7df9c37f53842a81086f84e7a29f19478a74e1200b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102572, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102572.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102572" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102572" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102572 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102572 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102572 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102572 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102572", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 961 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17103, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4da634dab8a1eb0cf8767822f5a95a7fe469c6e9c80307ef0b1a4629bb648af3" }, { "bytes": 6974, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "82e53acc27a748ea0117328b2141e7aed9810d5f16118c64ad598a9c010b2351" }, { "bytes": 6675, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "99b7cfe68617255065eaec7df9c37f53842a81086f84e7a29f19478a74e1200b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102572/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102572", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7a9a-a358-fdf2c6ec239a" } xbu9mnEbG0KggeuyyR6QrqW8E8PFC/7leVHGPUcBkKLEha3k6WDtEQDPrhALE8IJQjASLlZD+QytFeWXuqMtCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: xbu9mnEbG0KggeuyyR6QrqW8E8PFC/7leVHGPUcBkKLEha3k6WDtEQDPrhALE8IJQjASLlZD+QytFeWXuqMtCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17901,"name":"index.html","sha256":"714791702f806a0cf740613b8c66209359f61ea625f3c34039827ccf9a807409"},{"bytes":7662,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"cfc1b6a227c45039971821aa8e69eb2e5d0a766e0317c45cbfa7668aa95e5437"},{"bytes":7360,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d1826c933424a843ca182084ef0f2d001057a707e7471944e52832944b4c0d7a"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b43fecd6764657f435f2d83cd2a6249ad2358404c4fc86ac251232d7830f90a7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2f443a9d59806b817155b3ba2aa6add04fbea67a4949f94303326e620056c4cd"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"97127d2e5567ff6aebbbf4d504561a60b2f96e62c64819ab8fbfa0db0ffe39b5"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102573"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102573
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102573

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d1826c933424a843ca182084ef0f2d001057a707e7471944e52832944b4c0d7a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102573, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102573.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102573" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102573" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102573 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102573 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102573 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102573 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102573", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1066 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17901, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "714791702f806a0cf740613b8c66209359f61ea625f3c34039827ccf9a807409" }, { "bytes": 7662, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cfc1b6a227c45039971821aa8e69eb2e5d0a766e0317c45cbfa7668aa95e5437" }, { "bytes": 7360, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d1826c933424a843ca182084ef0f2d001057a707e7471944e52832944b4c0d7a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102573/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102573", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-716f-ac77-bbd43fce6a9b" } GmuO9ZpaL+NvGVJ13F3iSPpACNoM3mjoGNNhUmBY9Q24rFTWJNJcieWj2EhWIU57nojN7WIoeXWe7cVNyG8RBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: GmuO9ZpaL+NvGVJ13F3iSPpACNoM3mjoGNNhUmBY9Q24rFTWJNJcieWj2EhWIU57nojN7WIoeXWe7cVNyG8RBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17652,"name":"index.html","sha256":"57c08284f8323e0cf6d0fea2610569cc4001793ca8821d94604a814a93fb68e8"},{"bytes":7456,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d21098cb45c8dd781f7df3aed112b0969ee8cad4220a10ad6d4431910627ab02"},{"bytes":7154,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"55d70ce1d290cebbe51f21e1b6efc5aaea8665bdb1dc0f37ad13eeec22796b30"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"66c11b37474d0c6d26287040db195be6510bb19b2cced01dff54620e18b63d31"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0c16e2d1cf7acb6f7189fbb2da1f53ed33759f589755b01b23437bfe36299ee1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f898c0aaddf4697c4032607f92dbcae4db72cd512f327370dbb515ab43118228"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102574"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102574
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102574

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
55d70ce1d290cebbe51f21e1b6efc5aaea8665bdb1dc0f37ad13eeec22796b30

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102574, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102574.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102574" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102574" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102574 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102574 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102574 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102574 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102574", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1032 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17652, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "57c08284f8323e0cf6d0fea2610569cc4001793ca8821d94604a814a93fb68e8" }, { "bytes": 7456, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d21098cb45c8dd781f7df3aed112b0969ee8cad4220a10ad6d4431910627ab02" }, { "bytes": 7154, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "55d70ce1d290cebbe51f21e1b6efc5aaea8665bdb1dc0f37ad13eeec22796b30" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102574/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102574", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-741b-ab87-e14f588509e9" } lmmfxgOR7N7lxiuS+jEUWOYkNt4lJWbQhlGHrqbTvHbCiHLNIc87Ihp++wXCUJUmSZUIZKwR+cnjryKafRXdDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: lmmfxgOR7N7lxiuS+jEUWOYkNt4lJWbQhlGHrqbTvHbCiHLNIc87Ihp++wXCUJUmSZUIZKwR+cnjryKafRXdDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16870,"name":"index.html","sha256":"113cde4aac241edfefa7f4b9b99ab88053b822183c471ed5bb3981597f00dca7"},{"bytes":6787,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b7a345df01962b01525d7b35052d916889f4f37c1bbce3bcd14213e5b693e7e1"},{"bytes":6485,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a78af56508a94c754b692dc4009fee9424e26a17d65dc51f968a9602327302eb"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c6eebac7407385501dbc2f69f9c84949a9673fe2f3beb57b7f5543df89b9ee0c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c1e6a48fba0d9f70956f019bd709162488367ad1264c8018fc23ea072134b544"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"56ecdba7930e062fbdb0a4b4d2059a20d7d49d88ea2d3a2849a95d4000e0f147"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102575"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102575
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102575

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
a78af56508a94c754b692dc4009fee9424e26a17d65dc51f968a9602327302eb

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102575, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102575.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102575" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102575" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102575 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102575 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102575 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102575 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102576

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
354769b504268399fb402b22e677d9fc062ca36e78eb5e1560c23e72a427cc61

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102576, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102576.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102576" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102576" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102576 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102576 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102576 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102576 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102576", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1029 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17668, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a18472fba3a331ea0c50bc687a0f7c019846dfd8a46a6db89031157dceacf94c" }, { "bytes": 7475, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "62557324ca44031dd5007da78cbae0184522fe40235d6f55d0c7f5b777a97ab7" }, { "bytes": 7170, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "354769b504268399fb402b22e677d9fc062ca36e78eb5e1560c23e72a427cc61" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102576/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102576", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7a9a-89c0-aff7e801faae" } DbAGCX6OKTSNr0qfF3B7AM4Cu1sSHDE5FC9Qx4zXm4oxie9MIqgXBuYQsubBYJZ7li3jT4XX2T+gTbI6SmQWBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DbAGCX6OKTSNr0qfF3B7AM4Cu1sSHDE5FC9Qx4zXm4oxie9MIqgXBuYQsubBYJZ7li3jT4XX2T+gTbI6SmQWBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17419,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ff06edd5e072e6c7fbc2e67c88c3b67bbc583cd402beabf15afacd508e7e5cfe"},{"bytes":7269,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7873d198242571620c4859a80df6d3af57234867cf764c320391bfe4a5b9ab24"},{"bytes":6964,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"62abc69b74bd9328ac36f8a05324381f4d30d1dd3e3a6e7ad376047497aba17f"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8e155094faf34a6d495eea8e58480a118c7d16f152f776ec2c6b9502fbe1b465"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"fe2bf4239d85e3d5fec207eed34e113d5793ce05b35a17c8482ae8d39d104852"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"04889edeafdca98d86fb626277a94b856989b6001d3809cdd4610720cddd0572"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102577"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102577
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102577

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
62abc69b74bd9328ac36f8a05324381f4d30d1dd3e3a6e7ad376047497aba17f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102577, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102577.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102577" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102577" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102577 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102577 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102577 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102577 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102577", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 995 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17419, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ff06edd5e072e6c7fbc2e67c88c3b67bbc583cd402beabf15afacd508e7e5cfe" }, { "bytes": 7269, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7873d198242571620c4859a80df6d3af57234867cf764c320391bfe4a5b9ab24" }, { "bytes": 6964, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "62abc69b74bd9328ac36f8a05324381f4d30d1dd3e3a6e7ad376047497aba17f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102577/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102577", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-747d-8716-b6a9bffb3f8a" } hYfvtcKbVMVZDAT9UAcYbkoYp34fnqASay1pEtr5Y/r54Ritm03yy1MLFC5FObkBCRvC1lkzJfSto86O4Fw8BA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: hYfvtcKbVMVZDAT9UAcYbkoYp34fnqASay1pEtr5Y/r54Ritm03yy1MLFC5FObkBCRvC1lkzJfSto86O4Fw8BA== {"files":[{"bytes":16870,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6427cb9d3927b48d2d39f8cc4fce912c088f3af18064732176903bb9a5d43347"},{"bytes":6787,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7594f332862e5cac5e989a19a9e55165c095cfc8a6ef1504b6d546ab7337ac28"},{"bytes":6485,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f4687a7022ec82836a59a226ac8ba4f1c99267ce30e2a29e3a20e38e4b8a8c05"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d3bff1062d4a74fdb2c7e38fd780a2d68c1c6462ad656a4d0aa750a9bfc82465"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"da295111c6e7f364743230530811a0a1515504b52115e26c40f3b8e23722b200"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"aeec34196a8e499fa525f32215991aa2087420df1c5b3da2f6c492ae401a2a8e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102578"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102578
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102578

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
f4687a7022ec82836a59a226ac8ba4f1c99267ce30e2a29e3a20e38e4b8a8c05

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102578, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102578.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102578" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102578" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102578 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102578 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102578 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102578 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102578", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16870, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6427cb9d3927b48d2d39f8cc4fce912c088f3af18064732176903bb9a5d43347" }, { "bytes": 6787, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7594f332862e5cac5e989a19a9e55165c095cfc8a6ef1504b6d546ab7337ac28" }, { "bytes": 6485, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f4687a7022ec82836a59a226ac8ba4f1c99267ce30e2a29e3a20e38e4b8a8c05" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102578/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102578", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7658-9be8-25bedce633af" } kDJeRRajkOW5YAXz/jbJtdHFzosIhWxzJWxMsRkaJ4Bxi5QSP21Lto0ucMcW2oFIEedxy8yG4T7WrFo6YYCpCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: kDJeRRajkOW5YAXz/jbJtdHFzosIhWxzJWxMsRkaJ4Bxi5QSP21Lto0ucMcW2oFIEedxy8yG4T7WrFo6YYCpCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17668,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1f5efc56e9fa177fc289048c48f2376348b3f0b2f56df071458f37cf62ec80c9"},{"bytes":7475,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d9124ceeffc4a3c22233908b6f623936a6832429a95cb04631a1eb383cbf9942"},{"bytes":7170,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7c4b66dc1eda7cb10bedf50d4007066d12f8f1d81b81a4dee972573561adc040"},{"bytes":2772,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"64cb9a4cb3b718a5f7aad0e8d13a7585ec09958198393f9c94b271530617c1c3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"31e836a7835ade050313677067d4adebf04bc53387a10800025d9874995a892b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"efab6ac1e5a97caf15b3232935127b7c2a928b0425950c1667bc7daf5881c1ad"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102579"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102579
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102579

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7c4b66dc1eda7cb10bedf50d4007066d12f8f1d81b81a4dee972573561adc040

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102579, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102579.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102579" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102579" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102579 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102579 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102579 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102579 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102579", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1029 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17668, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1f5efc56e9fa177fc289048c48f2376348b3f0b2f56df071458f37cf62ec80c9" }, { "bytes": 7475, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d9124ceeffc4a3c22233908b6f623936a6832429a95cb04631a1eb383cbf9942" }, { "bytes": 7170, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7c4b66dc1eda7cb10bedf50d4007066d12f8f1d81b81a4dee972573561adc040" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102579/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102579", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-7eba-961e-7c623cceab9a" } 8P+I9uqbDHlpOlCvpEIQPvEpV7vOtwI/ICweBZW8jR67AWGXKrkRrVCqGJJnqyr6JEuKHUAkew1O1hiKBsBpBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 8P+I9uqbDHlpOlCvpEIQPvEpV7vOtwI/ICweBZW8jR67AWGXKrkRrVCqGJJnqyr6JEuKHUAkew1O1hiKBsBpBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17419,"name":"index.html","sha256":"00ebde0279f5f982b91f39c330b48e263216cf1e9e5c20c068c1dd40aef92e10"},{"bytes":7269,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b9f79c3b2bfbd5bff1c1d1bb3f6ebca0c8815278eddf8b4a364ddeeba07e60c9"},{"bytes":6964,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9b57f608446cedcc5695d6b415b4bb4dc71d80f67e094f30e58c3caaa5a3e2c5"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"21f46fa8fb4d16ec9d0ad76f346911dbcce18bb80e0db9e4b26f853ccd2579f5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f1a7a28620f3d7a30ed42faa5a4b73ccfefc74e7ae2206096e78a06fba3c737d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7d92a0b4e9417d24ca0a161ca82f8166862393c55947202b24da83d6530b01f0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102580"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102580
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102580

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9b57f608446cedcc5695d6b415b4bb4dc71d80f67e094f30e58c3caaa5a3e2c5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0019]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102580, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102580.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102580" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102580" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102580 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102580 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the ejector, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0019] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102580 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102580 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one ejector, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102580", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 995 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17419, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "00ebde0279f5f982b91f39c330b48e263216cf1e9e5c20c068c1dd40aef92e10" }, { "bytes": 7269, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b9f79c3b2bfbd5bff1c1d1bb3f6ebca0c8815278eddf8b4a364ddeeba07e60c9" }, { "bytes": 6964, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9b57f608446cedcc5695d6b415b4bb4dc71d80f67e094f30e58c3caaa5a3e2c5" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102580/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102580", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-718f-b37c-5cfb36dafba7" } 2UCOQBFakUULwbrgBd0Pm4mwhqDPasOISyTpc3J9yzpWJliQuwNYXK7W28EFCMhx1g/nfICArsx4JmbfR5kyAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 2UCOQBFakUULwbrgBd0Pm4mwhqDPasOISyTpc3J9yzpWJliQuwNYXK7W28EFCMhx1g/nfICArsx4JmbfR5kyAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16630,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e6511ce51f6e3b61f4333845ec8661a166e62ec5543cfeb74b1755e82b620d41"},{"bytes":6643,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d8f2eee4a5558a2164b7e4a18cf95e2a1c817810bdbd84e3b0e59cdc1eb045bf"},{"bytes":6313,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b27060dd1c637c145a0ee056acaf86331c0a5337c4de222174291faf759579c5"},{"bytes":2822,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"604c43103ce3a2c2d7f054722643ad7a3338f6dce4e856b18e25fee3bf536437"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e8501b0028d4df9e2ab8a97acaad37396ae92e0c2ec381f2db457c3d4a5274c6"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"154576e1b747efeacd4d3c21f76bacd8b774347dd595d1ac3084cbae04bf7e71"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102581"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102581
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102581

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b27060dd1c637c145a0ee056acaf86331c0a5337c4de222174291faf759579c5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102581, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102581.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102581" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102581" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102581 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102581 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102581 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102581 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102581", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 885 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16630, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e6511ce51f6e3b61f4333845ec8661a166e62ec5543cfeb74b1755e82b620d41" }, { "bytes": 6643, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d8f2eee4a5558a2164b7e4a18cf95e2a1c817810bdbd84e3b0e59cdc1eb045bf" }, { "bytes": 6313, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b27060dd1c637c145a0ee056acaf86331c0a5337c4de222174291faf759579c5" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102581/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102581", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858a-73a9-b571-06e0986bdea1" } dRFKZk2bTQk1ScSSGEA7BtoKyxn1pIFmcW1qmNtqEdfDyEeIyfj45oikxQJOF/khzn4NY57kPY2lZas92BJtAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: dRFKZk2bTQk1ScSSGEA7BtoKyxn1pIFmcW1qmNtqEdfDyEeIyfj45oikxQJOF/khzn4NY57kPY2lZas92BJtAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17422,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3c57325cb11905223096fec5eb877b9df4552ce24495f257ac0bc9cc2c5e7235"},{"bytes":7325,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bff50293005b942e1e9cefae6b43e09543146abaf1ee1c301446a6c23843335a"},{"bytes":6992,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5e4315fbe6b0c853ffdcf24b7cfcac33fb915c2ee88f715930118098b2dd66dc"},{"bytes":2831,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fbcd012978b1e270ab405e10c13f45b2f61c00a69200992d7a80ee53a23816c7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a18afd5b8a75add9ae9b2705ce39ffe0d6e791e5ec4baa1b9b1a89761dec7ba7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"495036182cbfc66a5f0030b146ddf77d12fd73ebc0e414fae4a9e6b28ee80c88"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102582"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102582
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102582

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
5e4315fbe6b0c853ffdcf24b7cfcac33fb915c2ee88f715930118098b2dd66dc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0019]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102582, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102582.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102582" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102582" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102582 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102582 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0019] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102582 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102582 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102582", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 990 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17422, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3c57325cb11905223096fec5eb877b9df4552ce24495f257ac0bc9cc2c5e7235" }, { "bytes": 7325, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bff50293005b942e1e9cefae6b43e09543146abaf1ee1c301446a6c23843335a" }, { "bytes": 6992, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "5e4315fbe6b0c853ffdcf24b7cfcac33fb915c2ee88f715930118098b2dd66dc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102582/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102582", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-793b-bce0-39749de43e3d" } J9cYQMLfqPm8+yD6W4eZajgSQwe4W3+YaFkM1sMp9lS4irYkdIYgASZbjeMngtA6h/cw4XlexM/yAGzNZlXNDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: J9cYQMLfqPm8+yD6W4eZajgSQwe4W3+YaFkM1sMp9lS4irYkdIYgASZbjeMngtA6h/cw4XlexM/yAGzNZlXNDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17173,"name":"index.html","sha256":"8ee088fab36ee8e6b72db45e5fa54eed0f7c744706ed600f898ce3c32fa0f643"},{"bytes":7119,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4ce7cafa1b550da98a0acdff3ca3fde615eb089ca283762f06a67cd75888cb57"},{"bytes":6786,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e587f5f7c091f705901da05c844132f2c04c9fd7a75cc43ab25f42e8308ad66b"},{"bytes":2831,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c2be5e7c74d784f27189901f6c302da6ad34c4952a9f115f25f9a7e86b61747a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"48787e9e185afc49c7122d110850cce005606c8e244fcf2c96b85ef874530881"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"284ed48fa9b84c9985252dc5d59423b8bdeea21d571479deb43ed0e7ad2d92bf"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102583"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102583
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102583

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
e587f5f7c091f705901da05c844132f2c04c9fd7a75cc43ab25f42e8308ad66b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102583, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102583.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102583" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102583" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102583 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102583 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102583 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102583 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102583", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 956 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17173, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8ee088fab36ee8e6b72db45e5fa54eed0f7c744706ed600f898ce3c32fa0f643" }, { "bytes": 7119, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4ce7cafa1b550da98a0acdff3ca3fde615eb089ca283762f06a67cd75888cb57" }, { "bytes": 6786, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e587f5f7c091f705901da05c844132f2c04c9fd7a75cc43ab25f42e8308ad66b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102583/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102583", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-75d0-b4db-90bfae11d3e9" } c7TEO7+hVBsPUKz+RrL8bDjHf0/PNzEVAW8Uyr8Gykh+7eFmjcQMqLj9AgqP11kq/EYBaxcexelxmK6xJ7Y8AQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: c7TEO7+hVBsPUKz+RrL8bDjHf0/PNzEVAW8Uyr8Gykh+7eFmjcQMqLj9AgqP11kq/EYBaxcexelxmK6xJ7Y8AQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16631,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9102376d0c370d603a3e02adf5891a2b4f5bb575d8e2d95bc5f0b67704efb4d4"},{"bytes":6644,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"08d08e7c9fb7c65bbb6a8f75a60374faa41d9c92b1f9cdcbf6141792db3369ec"},{"bytes":6314,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7f002265beedea5ef71ffa825a17009319b9b64d565288c28e9abc50d7fbec83"},{"bytes":2822,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d54a9f9f326173f15a7a6033508ddbe0627748b67e85501ae8442228b374d8b0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8a04c495e319468a9e9aa9d977e9acec3152d359876f4ed7103c3256f7ff9cc8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6c83e5530e1abe54af3893090c3032ab746abf18f5e88c95037cd20c6bd6f74f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102584"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102584
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102584

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
7f002265beedea5ef71ffa825a17009319b9b64d565288c28e9abc50d7fbec83

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102584, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102584.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102584" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102584" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102584 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102584 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102584 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102584 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102584", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 885 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16631, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9102376d0c370d603a3e02adf5891a2b4f5bb575d8e2d95bc5f0b67704efb4d4" }, { "bytes": 6644, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "08d08e7c9fb7c65bbb6a8f75a60374faa41d9c92b1f9cdcbf6141792db3369ec" }, { "bytes": 6314, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7f002265beedea5ef71ffa825a17009319b9b64d565288c28e9abc50d7fbec83" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102584/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102584", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7122-a719-b780aec2d0f2" } tBL+i72hW1hjS9IllGsPyU+2tevoizMtBrY5T/jIzz0Stp8+8CTF5nkKKl4QkhmD1mdh8b4J0+NuCHnGDn9zCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: tBL+i72hW1hjS9IllGsPyU+2tevoizMtBrY5T/jIzz0Stp8+8CTF5nkKKl4QkhmD1mdh8b4J0+NuCHnGDn9zCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17423,"name":"index.html","sha256":"67ac2eb69b603e70c6cabe28870c48a6ede3085b1f7e2243446eea4526a16098"},{"bytes":7326,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"8d4a72a196461ea88f8388646b1c031a8c3325cb1bb4893b6f680e48b7a77688"},{"bytes":6993,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bc35d007d9f767e779f5caabbdf6de910dc1fd2ce1e0e61d179d987c6a0d298b"},{"bytes":2831,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"719b01475dd98a7ca0482b7bdb7ad1baf1fa570d46a2be3d7917da203b44e04e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"eaa9b60ddea28ea18ad0134865326b335d2b20017bf64314b972f020bef9688b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d6491b46307937dadfe8c4f305a39f04b69eeade3f1ee67a19fafb971446bf4b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102585"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102585
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102585

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
bc35d007d9f767e779f5caabbdf6de910dc1fd2ce1e0e61d179d987c6a0d298b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0019]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102585, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102585.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102585" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102585" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102585 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102585 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0019] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102585 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102585 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102585", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 990 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17423, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "67ac2eb69b603e70c6cabe28870c48a6ede3085b1f7e2243446eea4526a16098" }, { "bytes": 7326, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "8d4a72a196461ea88f8388646b1c031a8c3325cb1bb4893b6f680e48b7a77688" }, { "bytes": 6993, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bc35d007d9f767e779f5caabbdf6de910dc1fd2ce1e0e61d179d987c6a0d298b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102585/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102585", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-75f7-afbb-213b218311e1" } sz4PbZ8++WWwT2QkVVoBm9tZIwiMEkvVOd0/g0vl5Mj4/VDN174Cd2wr6uc+Im4Iqw+MtFc4QYW5IOkAdfl3Dg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sz4PbZ8++WWwT2QkVVoBm9tZIwiMEkvVOd0/g0vl5Mj4/VDN174Cd2wr6uc+Im4Iqw+MtFc4QYW5IOkAdfl3Dg== {"files":[{"bytes":17174,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d2a844c0393d4f6aaa326cf55969852ed054b8ebcffd3723902ac20e078759ce"},{"bytes":7120,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"dc9bdba7e82536c4bfc48ee636fab56b85462565e2eb3346ca7845be061ab2e0"},{"bytes":6787,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2b12d3293d478bd07365bcf4d70ebf92fb3e96f3470511e1669a3a2a3b14c42c"},{"bytes":2831,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"bd4888327c4aea205cb274868ab15262bcb21886ebc92ec35f5f08ccc755d204"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3da39bbd85c9dffd2da86252d870ded8aa04053e13911830462c71d8b572c7b4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"32050a5e2088ac59197f5d86867aa26ba3589199dbab1c3fecb0344011ca5ca4"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102586"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102586
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102586

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
2b12d3293d478bd07365bcf4d70ebf92fb3e96f3470511e1669a3a2a3b14c42c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102586, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102586.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102586" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102586" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102586 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102586 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102586 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102586 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102587

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
7f2ba3e9bed083b77e84715fa33eb891d68456a85f4c14d330564329074e3664

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102587, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102587.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102587" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102587" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102587 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102587 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102587 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102587 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102587", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 885 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16635, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ef241b2cb4e89ead65939907e199814f5734f99ee7eeb4bb62d06282923e711e" }, { "bytes": 6648, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "607b40d6efe8add3e53388f6de3ba8caea522321dfe71fd9e3f2fb13d0b89a92" }, { "bytes": 6318, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7f2ba3e9bed083b77e84715fa33eb891d68456a85f4c14d330564329074e3664" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102587/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102587", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7373-b3ac-30442d4f1b2f" } Mno6eWuQ0tEaqwYOtyi7GXBHpSuk/icRHPMXXhZsx4nLt1QdMGAFcI3Z/8Btiel2Ud6fqr4f3+DOLopCVFijCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Mno6eWuQ0tEaqwYOtyi7GXBHpSuk/icRHPMXXhZsx4nLt1QdMGAFcI3Z/8Btiel2Ud6fqr4f3+DOLopCVFijCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17427,"name":"index.html","sha256":"acc748620c93f1dd58ebab1db03d1d5a0a5d6297667a5e9af3d293cd9270f13d"},{"bytes":7330,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9f01ffc660748874179e5f4ae59b0fa0f95fc674f863de2b5e245c8b73dec208"},{"bytes":6997,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"39d076dd440b398dbf08de60390f22eed42452457a655eda235c78dcc72aac87"},{"bytes":2831,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4df2ac333ebb747439e440a626e7bbc6f1be79e346b24148377c6579a4085d59"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8d1b485546de477a30c6020bb9a55bf153586fb2c316f978ff814ebe364124cb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f6925f3be920d63ba86765bd1cd2261f78d846b2a34c05e6e50541c3f808f80e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102588"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102588
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102588

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
39d076dd440b398dbf08de60390f22eed42452457a655eda235c78dcc72aac87

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0019]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102588, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102588.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102588" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102588" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102588 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102588 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0019] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102588 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102588 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102588", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 990 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17427, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "acc748620c93f1dd58ebab1db03d1d5a0a5d6297667a5e9af3d293cd9270f13d" }, { "bytes": 7330, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9f01ffc660748874179e5f4ae59b0fa0f95fc674f863de2b5e245c8b73dec208" }, { "bytes": 6997, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "39d076dd440b398dbf08de60390f22eed42452457a655eda235c78dcc72aac87" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102588/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102588", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-76a3-bcb7-6f81bd96f91a" } sVtz5dFlDFOhqrepmPEX5I9WaFwgC2Eku/JwjkDSXJf3F272UhFMwYKaknso7Hmr/j/xtfBZ8Oqij59Dyar2DQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sVtz5dFlDFOhqrepmPEX5I9WaFwgC2Eku/JwjkDSXJf3F272UhFMwYKaknso7Hmr/j/xtfBZ8Oqij59Dyar2DQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17178,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9d8c799222b31b101cfaff6638fa3db3caad83eade94eb21d26c91c8257d8406"},{"bytes":7124,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1a4de48afeb684aedcb4ade01f356f5cce10d39b407913bcd1ce7c0684725b40"},{"bytes":6791,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f1500a2896853b456945c6f31789b130e6a7032e2c066fdb67c9061797a4cf3c"},{"bytes":2831,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"88e116de3a618db546fbccab79e93a879655c1555366a8b488877fc8b64f2926"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"835df3df1ab5c600bb5ee1abb3bfe75f8aeca118260e866a1a0ea8bef89022fc"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bc68df50d92234a1065b3ca8a568404ebf0872331b235638525978f9ef8a6004"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102589"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102589
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102589

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
f1500a2896853b456945c6f31789b130e6a7032e2c066fdb67c9061797a4cf3c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102589, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102589.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102589" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102589" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102589 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102589 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102589 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102589 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102589", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 956 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17178, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9d8c799222b31b101cfaff6638fa3db3caad83eade94eb21d26c91c8257d8406" }, { "bytes": 7124, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1a4de48afeb684aedcb4ade01f356f5cce10d39b407913bcd1ce7c0684725b40" }, { "bytes": 6791, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f1500a2896853b456945c6f31789b130e6a7032e2c066fdb67c9061797a4cf3c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102589/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102589", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7809-92a8-654d50a537c3" } kglvJFP9BhPaxMGfoeiEwHqSZ+A9BQu7/9mVOQXkRTIqOKKV19e936phiyMPt7p89/L6GxW6qZNmjK/Md1PdAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: kglvJFP9BhPaxMGfoeiEwHqSZ+A9BQu7/9mVOQXkRTIqOKKV19e936phiyMPt7p89/L6GxW6qZNmjK/Md1PdAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16811,"name":"index.html","sha256":"44ddf2eddcf7c664da41cdd1e31894a09b6ab05e4fbe47f301316f2528881a1e"},{"bytes":6794,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b6c5c3d2800cd113f28aa38ed9b22e64bd4ae71910c7fd756c3969cabefbb6f4"},{"bytes":6475,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d672f99f72b3187071bf8248f992b7875009b6dbdf202cd804f59cae42ac0efc"},{"bytes":2799,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fe243c78b4ad939a88ec381b3e1f53a1a8b51f8e8d35f5768dd84eac9eb69074"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f77b267d70db3eabd9ff3699746afd073b13be2948d627d1ead429762628a6a2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"65ed498fc6e26bef343c7783955ffb692d2266e45ee52c7e24f3c38a529bf571"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102590"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102590
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102590

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d672f99f72b3187071bf8248f992b7875009b6dbdf202cd804f59cae42ac0efc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102590, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102590.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102590" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102590" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102590 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102590 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102590 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102590 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102590", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16811, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "44ddf2eddcf7c664da41cdd1e31894a09b6ab05e4fbe47f301316f2528881a1e" }, { "bytes": 6794, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b6c5c3d2800cd113f28aa38ed9b22e64bd4ae71910c7fd756c3969cabefbb6f4" }, { "bytes": 6475, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d672f99f72b3187071bf8248f992b7875009b6dbdf202cd804f59cae42ac0efc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102590/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102590", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7a31-8df4-38d357115a4e" } QNV+vrImg9x06y7QnP/wGUjTZzMt6QgCCboX5uycFv0Disa12CZ11NKRY49kCihjEt5M0Pt9hOSVJSd+Vr9JCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: QNV+vrImg9x06y7QnP/wGUjTZzMt6QgCCboX5uycFv0Disa12CZ11NKRY49kCihjEt5M0Pt9hOSVJSd+Vr9JCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17603,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2fe27e37013a8a0a5ddaf7b8aee4618a9882c2b106deb8ea4bfae873c557d957"},{"bytes":7476,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"948f0a804ece9b99b13956efcb8db83362cd3febb925e946210f30c2aa805cdd"},{"bytes":7154,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cffca03e07e4ff55e2f1429de3c9a6a3a07ab74587a08d1133ed0f3342fe94b9"},{"bytes":2809,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1add2d8a06aec1f2e4f233621a42bf8a7ba109951c37681f636e9c453855ea5a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"09c7d08084f5ef1f45d2cefd8512c50ddc0d8e7f0c18078a577d99ea593e2803"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"128237c8c71c93935cdb5d66b384b78e5886b9a6272fdf3bf966824910db63bd"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102591"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102591
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102591

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
cffca03e07e4ff55e2f1429de3c9a6a3a07ab74587a08d1133ed0f3342fe94b9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0019]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102591, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102591.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102591" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102591" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102591 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102591 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0019] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102591 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102591 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102592

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
e61220794aa2ef932384ff135713c1f97c930b86d875fe6459bea60102e74f11

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102592, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102592.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102592" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102592" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102592 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102592 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102592 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102592 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102593

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
f365707bb32163e37c734a5b7adfe5fa4f09c459fab41b630cb8533ffb924a7a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102593, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102593.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102593" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102593" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102593 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102593 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102593 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102593 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102593", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 910 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16757, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "22b36cc074c92055ddf3d476e41cbd832cdf924d9b56cda9523101d15b5c77b4" }, { "bytes": 6740, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "341c01e046201cbcf0eadfb5543118af1ce09cbad798001f7354cb72e7c9e72a" }, { "bytes": 6421, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f365707bb32163e37c734a5b7adfe5fa4f09c459fab41b630cb8533ffb924a7a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102593/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102593", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7af6-a16e-4ffe5130c3d9" } 64N+lNZ7tHSbCn3yERSEAAMW1uTogiSnSJhwZIXO3OcAuxR35YGJp9duH7xPChKgjBlnbw3TVX75ASvRGo+8Bg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 64N+lNZ7tHSbCn3yERSEAAMW1uTogiSnSJhwZIXO3OcAuxR35YGJp9duH7xPChKgjBlnbw3TVX75ASvRGo+8Bg== {"files":[{"bytes":17549,"name":"index.html","sha256":"df796678f19bf9a4051b97c9b4089f1e869a768420b948d22fb4d3d7374c0bd9"},{"bytes":7422,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2795360ac5c0b879e6dcf8f66114043ced43e528bf028a9f17efaa2e0e33209b"},{"bytes":7100,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"30a4a1bbde6fa1aa75d56fa0ec029f1176eb458e654966f8dfddcd9575dd8344"},{"bytes":2809,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d820c6a121b3898bc0fb1a4733598e3af68e3e19466f2127f1529ba068e43457"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c7cb362c464bd091c4656b9751f2dbf4eb10bbab7a936e010d8ee52515087377"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"99e2230b755ff01fabda1560e1bde5507afcf36ff608c813745f06577200766b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102594"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102594
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102594

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
30a4a1bbde6fa1aa75d56fa0ec029f1176eb458e654966f8dfddcd9575dd8344

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0019]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102594, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102594.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102594" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102594" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102594 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102594 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0019] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102594 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102594 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102594", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 1015 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17549, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "df796678f19bf9a4051b97c9b4089f1e869a768420b948d22fb4d3d7374c0bd9" }, { "bytes": 7422, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2795360ac5c0b879e6dcf8f66114043ced43e528bf028a9f17efaa2e0e33209b" }, { "bytes": 7100, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "30a4a1bbde6fa1aa75d56fa0ec029f1176eb458e654966f8dfddcd9575dd8344" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102594/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102594", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7399-8239-6fd76bd13cbc" } Man06No0TC7Rm+uQ1mKXnOZIg1P1hq2YicW/SW+7SZW6jJErCpJmR21e4LsLeSC0CcYnG4EgPGd1siDlual2Aw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Man06No0TC7Rm+uQ1mKXnOZIg1P1hq2YicW/SW+7SZW6jJErCpJmR21e4LsLeSC0CcYnG4EgPGd1siDlual2Aw== {"files":[{"bytes":17300,"name":"index.html","sha256":"bf3944deec1f7cbee58f81c553e38b32aae1144e388d66e1c09e1402cec72540"},{"bytes":7216,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"97c345122d9f835540cfe996d5751bdb34e686d10055aac79ab26e3ac1279dcc"},{"bytes":6894,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a9ba5f31ce5c44c8905f17cff5ab51b956338b90fd47cacbd968e09162405699"},{"bytes":2808,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"846b18bb4a421c1e0c11374f3030433d0bb65b750bc621a2ff4931f51c1fa03b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"14cd1b7210e01f067e713cd8ebcbe5ba76687cfa08c92271b0df44f1d9082a53"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"fe7ebadbb59bca96614eae71dd0f81a4935343a59d1945369eb0dd1607829f2a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102595"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102595
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102595

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
a9ba5f31ce5c44c8905f17cff5ab51b956338b90fd47cacbd968e09162405699

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102595, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102595.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102595" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102595" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102595 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102595 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102595 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102595 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102595", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 981 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17300, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "bf3944deec1f7cbee58f81c553e38b32aae1144e388d66e1c09e1402cec72540" }, { "bytes": 7216, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "97c345122d9f835540cfe996d5751bdb34e686d10055aac79ab26e3ac1279dcc" }, { "bytes": 6894, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a9ba5f31ce5c44c8905f17cff5ab51b956338b90fd47cacbd968e09162405699" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102595/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102595", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7f78-9f85-4139ff4b2ba6" } 4GGZ9DVxDCSebwlSRG8meZuyfqeZkjoHnCAap/3ZgFDomeXvHhIJdbPMdkdu3lt0BXnT22PCcC4VpyXgFdNzBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 4GGZ9DVxDCSebwlSRG8meZuyfqeZkjoHnCAap/3ZgFDomeXvHhIJdbPMdkdu3lt0BXnT22PCcC4VpyXgFdNzBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16524,"name":"index.html","sha256":"920a580bad789dd800b484fa0ae36df481ba1f290c5b1636daaddea776df9b2e"},{"bytes":6553,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"510575276ccd4153591799302a875abe10a31038df2da737a2135908bbdbd61f"},{"bytes":6231,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"edd491c38ae7f9a6ca7a18edc6ab1ed7d6bd3d7690c85a0277f62d2abc6f48a7"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"86906717b74a6303b103932b803eb06667677f8c8fcfea51785aa3b9f596f94b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d9e91a56c0f3bda2023e0fd7cc1764187f772848e9999adeec1031c426e53e92"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a896174b04e413f1fbc2eb484d6746140bcba23f13c548e9a36d2e82032c883a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102596"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102596
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102596

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
edd491c38ae7f9a6ca7a18edc6ab1ed7d6bd3d7690c85a0277f62d2abc6f48a7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102596, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102596.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102596" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102596" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102596 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102596 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102596 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102596 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102597

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
f5c6a54117f870883e4b8e4c5a503c1d8a0f103fa73847265a2471fdc210f1f7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0019]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102597, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102597.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102597" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102597" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102597 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102597 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0019] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102597 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102597 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102598

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
c537b37c10849f3a1fabc2e0d413f6a37c410396199aced7cc461c940cdae9f6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102598, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102598.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102598" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102598" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102598 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102598 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102598 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102598 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102598", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 944 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17067, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b4bf367bd04fd177402a476c6843f6cf0fb5ed8124eba61d020b3e081788fb63" }, { "bytes": 7029, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "776b025f91fb5f06a319e929799924365f8f69c2670785e3f5d420c0e4d64988" }, { "bytes": 6704, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c537b37c10849f3a1fabc2e0d413f6a37c410396199aced7cc461c940cdae9f6" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102598/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102598", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7115-ae2d-b654f4ffccad" } p2STltzfw+dbz++vgV4Xfm7D/ePHdH1QoZ7ahTGnSM3xbGpbMuL/qrzAr37kz8slhtw9uATGJbAEk6fF1QVyBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: p2STltzfw+dbz++vgV4Xfm7D/ePHdH1QoZ7ahTGnSM3xbGpbMuL/qrzAr37kz8slhtw9uATGJbAEk6fF1QVyBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16524,"name":"index.html","sha256":"804ab997c0d65365ddbefbf3e89f77c815c82c0c9d936427022934897ea24447"},{"bytes":6553,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"dbfb80a48cc70a29877a2c4d70c0fd1516c85c36f493a0530319798e2cb979f0"},{"bytes":6231,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"843461bca29c60cee1059c65cb077f68ba7aacefdf511586e67a2d2e32767ecc"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"52fd933fd6690330dbe70fb35c4856faf526123454937699ab895ff5152b0672"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1c24df110d2fd48341616f83a298fce3fc812f7b03b9aca1332533c4b8169c5c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d4e5ebe7d64e12412bf6ad27861d254d65b7ce14715cdcf1317ef36e87804bf0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102599"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102599
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102599

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
843461bca29c60cee1059c65cb077f68ba7aacefdf511586e67a2d2e32767ecc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102599, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102599.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102599" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102599" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102599 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102599 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102599 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102599 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102599", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 873 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16524, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "804ab997c0d65365ddbefbf3e89f77c815c82c0c9d936427022934897ea24447" }, { "bytes": 6553, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "dbfb80a48cc70a29877a2c4d70c0fd1516c85c36f493a0530319798e2cb979f0" }, { "bytes": 6231, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "843461bca29c60cee1059c65cb077f68ba7aacefdf511586e67a2d2e32767ecc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102599/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102599", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-73d7-aab2-8df4b4e929de" } W0Ca+OFJUDYEG2HgHSPN7DYFPr1s4UmLJVkk4Bxzt7iXFaqzmiDHBhI+6Fnx/3etWfTeBn5awBzPsGiOVxK6Aw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: W0Ca+OFJUDYEG2HgHSPN7DYFPr1s4UmLJVkk4Bxzt7iXFaqzmiDHBhI+6Fnx/3etWfTeBn5awBzPsGiOVxK6Aw== {"files":[{"bytes":17316,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c2e4aaad1315181626cb516615dc5b527ba11a5170ff3c64c556f8854caf6c8f"},{"bytes":7235,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4392d3632bff28a84d5b9b83232e637b98d539921532e926f377ba3cd6f80c74"},{"bytes":6910,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"60da92995435752b92d8af183418bcc8d663b7272d961c7459b2a354ef56105f"},{"bytes":2823,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4286a8b88b10c301e87434cf0a99d6fb14b1ebf9dfb203de0e7863aee240af25"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"5aa1850721df857346d16d74691720bc5ab9e23f9acaf248032232c4fe03aedd"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8cf61eea5f4d3b8928d9bdd00899536a503fc614543c70aaf0d52cf32fe3484d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102600"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102600
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102600

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
60da92995435752b92d8af183418bcc8d663b7272d961c7459b2a354ef56105f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0019]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102600, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102600.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102600" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102600" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102600 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102600 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0019] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102600 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102600 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102600", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 978 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17316, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c2e4aaad1315181626cb516615dc5b527ba11a5170ff3c64c556f8854caf6c8f" }, { "bytes": 7235, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4392d3632bff28a84d5b9b83232e637b98d539921532e926f377ba3cd6f80c74" }, { "bytes": 6910, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "60da92995435752b92d8af183418bcc8d663b7272d961c7459b2a354ef56105f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102600/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102600", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ac9-91a2-25b3a6e936d6" } SiIWXJSeaPm1FWqkTw/w1B394Q6SnYYFNlDSl+SxsyuocMVTENHxDIlVUgzBPb+NBjbRDr500ymYM00QyyhvCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: SiIWXJSeaPm1FWqkTw/w1B394Q6SnYYFNlDSl+SxsyuocMVTENHxDIlVUgzBPb+NBjbRDr500ymYM00QyyhvCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17067,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b34246dd9b5cb41fe44dcf7de3ece4176d3bd4f4d781857341b09135e71fd600"},{"bytes":7029,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f45bc557dd0f0221b250da0647c930749aacf8d5496844d58851b013a0141465"},{"bytes":6704,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5c918ac8cde4ef633fe4ff7cec66c93de9a0377c1cb5b487d3b5cd5352404cba"},{"bytes":2823,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a09cbe798d11ba12855eb7f6179fa912b3d525142654159e962d1770446b5e4c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"aa3e1fc5dddcbc2485068a545fe51c210dfa9e91551b09e3573a17aef64344a3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"70fd51a16f48e5b8b44f17cbad3cea78a9aa6990409789ee89dfa3623d013867"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102601"} Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102601
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102601

Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
5c918ac8cde4ef633fe4ff7cec66c93de9a0377c1cb5b487d3b5cd5352404cba

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0010]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0011]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0012]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0013]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0014]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0015]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0016]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0017]

  • After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0018]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102601, “Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102601.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102601" title: "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102601" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102601 Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102601 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the plant vacuum connection, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0010] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0011] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0012] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0013] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0014] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0015] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0016] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0017] - After the suction cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0018] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10163334-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102601 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102601 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102601", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 944 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17067, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b34246dd9b5cb41fe44dcf7de3ece4176d3bd4f4d781857341b09135e71fd600" }, { "bytes": 7029, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f45bc557dd0f0221b250da0647c930749aacf8d5496844d58851b013a0141465" }, { "bytes": 6704, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "5c918ac8cde4ef633fe4ff7cec66c93de9a0377c1cb5b487d3b5cd5352404cba" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102601/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102601", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7a23-bdb3-b55d4eecab45" } SeCMUsFk2g0GRisnqzWQ0z/UOzmnEIAlREv0+Y8t0mgCEvuGTz7FgcG5PYddsV3tAkperwtw3bz7NifUllUeAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: SeCMUsFk2g0GRisnqzWQ0z/UOzmnEIAlREv0+Y8t0mgCEvuGTz7FgcG5PYddsV3tAkperwtw3bz7NifUllUeAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16838,"name":"index.html","sha256":"99948746bcd9bc298ef17ccc4162cbad71c069289e9f203cdbff944e5f26c0e3"},{"bytes":6765,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e146d0b888397612515106d6023ca6b55f93dfacea42bd6e42c9122ea6a60bcc"},{"bytes":6462,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cc878f3c4a73392c7fb1e591fe6f710b4ff00738684cab84302ae9a790d09526"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ef85bee4f4dbc3290edc95d4059c8b7b42b1f061c4af118a98389048e9d54b1f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e1071db33d9f9b71a8ef8146b57bc4250e0c4d8e861bb49c7b8e5af1b335799c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7cedf7c447624e7430381d3bc2b152eafff84885a15c3475c3e4070f243e1aed"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102602"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102602
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102602

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
cc878f3c4a73392c7fb1e591fe6f710b4ff00738684cab84302ae9a790d09526

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102602, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102602.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102602" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102602" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102602 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102602 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102602 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102602 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102602", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 918 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16838, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "99948746bcd9bc298ef17ccc4162cbad71c069289e9f203cdbff944e5f26c0e3" }, { "bytes": 6765, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e146d0b888397612515106d6023ca6b55f93dfacea42bd6e42c9122ea6a60bcc" }, { "bytes": 6462, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cc878f3c4a73392c7fb1e591fe6f710b4ff00738684cab84302ae9a790d09526" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102602/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102602", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7c78-9318-eb3f92ae0f9c" } IZdU+1upczOdJ6uWhxZlkQiFgMU0+3/+cZ1YQUMHEFHoM8XYh1K+mxMUg/aiLOwgnfNHmyJ+dCWwR+RrhFYpCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: IZdU+1upczOdJ6uWhxZlkQiFgMU0+3/+cZ1YQUMHEFHoM8XYh1K+mxMUg/aiLOwgnfNHmyJ+dCWwR+RrhFYpCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17636,"name":"index.html","sha256":"52a12aebe91fbc3e5068218c6aefafca11875aed34070132643d02237c32ed3c"},{"bytes":7453,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"92a123e780c82d221ff9178a850c4233250e513b02dfc89f7093236a72a77558"},{"bytes":7147,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1daebbd0c10f4c8ae00c3a347a21b1d95a1d83748888256065e685298e79f950"},{"bytes":2781,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ed56d7d09a4e2c9ff0e7d3e4cacb1a2d2a9aa84044794dd5fe4b79bdd7841c18"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c07586ae89ecb8bc435a3324e002e7cdd9a7ae30a5833648276ab8342f8899c2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6ece513d8ca3887583deafd0bf151b0714e7bffbac27b90edbfb5f0cbcc23890"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102603"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102603
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102603

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
1daebbd0c10f4c8ae00c3a347a21b1d95a1d83748888256065e685298e79f950

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102603, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102603.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102603" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102603" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102603 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102603 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102603 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102603 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102603", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1023 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17636, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "52a12aebe91fbc3e5068218c6aefafca11875aed34070132643d02237c32ed3c" }, { "bytes": 7453, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "92a123e780c82d221ff9178a850c4233250e513b02dfc89f7093236a72a77558" }, { "bytes": 7147, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1daebbd0c10f4c8ae00c3a347a21b1d95a1d83748888256065e685298e79f950" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102603/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102603", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7d2c-bb04-03308f0bb1ae" } yAl8EN8ptpGDtgE96EgITT/LdMB3mf+euIwKlFITWBkGfU91BaoaP7IcnomYytinENBMW2oIr3BVt/4Y2At4BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: yAl8EN8ptpGDtgE96EgITT/LdMB3mf+euIwKlFITWBkGfU91BaoaP7IcnomYytinENBMW2oIr3BVt/4Y2At4BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17387,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f7ba281646536e46eabb0780cdc027029c1879bb8fc7739b34c820abc9fc93d0"},{"bytes":7247,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"589ee2703955541502a6956ec1eec30fbf8dcd7f934e3c1a493850405e54d836"},{"bytes":6941,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8e23a1bcf83b7ffdaade241593c80dc10d5a68a7d63658435ebc826ab74f8f90"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c3b392545c23e78dc6532fb0986c2f7d69636e593e475f95c4dcc8e80504d56a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6e8e7725cfe76c0c9c3bf809b061f1943a8a4ed2c79a47a18a6dfb89dbe77c5d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6e7573c68dc48d6844508bf6cb998593f5e75c176e0e700963b21a5dbcbed007"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102604"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102604
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102604

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8e23a1bcf83b7ffdaade241593c80dc10d5a68a7d63658435ebc826ab74f8f90

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102604, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102604.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102604" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102604" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102604 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102604 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102604 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102604 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102604", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 989 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17387, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f7ba281646536e46eabb0780cdc027029c1879bb8fc7739b34c820abc9fc93d0" }, { "bytes": 7247, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "589ee2703955541502a6956ec1eec30fbf8dcd7f934e3c1a493850405e54d836" }, { "bytes": 6941, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8e23a1bcf83b7ffdaade241593c80dc10d5a68a7d63658435ebc826ab74f8f90" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102604/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102604", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ad1-b99f-184f65f4a679" } 2cg68pZtE8bVt+LN25ztGKVybgl+je+tz4jW7DAdtlor7WGdtZmTaxAXE8FfReHRk5bCJVX82lWG1q8BVRLuDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 2cg68pZtE8bVt+LN25ztGKVybgl+je+tz4jW7DAdtlor7WGdtZmTaxAXE8FfReHRk5bCJVX82lWG1q8BVRLuDA== {"files":[{"bytes":16839,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1180bf527443b4de62dcb5280709e904e9faec56740a0b33b12b1f3f8404a94f"},{"bytes":6766,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0a0bd6886684670d9a2b646999d7a5ed0dcc031a909e0f0a056a180f76f0586d"},{"bytes":6463,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4cfdf228a72ad46c16716313284bc83065b60c609f53f6a42c35349dd3710843"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b8b31d95642428731699a9699193d9a58692066e960280bcf4a4be264795d56b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e67cd1259f9491f33889af9bac761dae0084bddacdf1137b31bf6f4004fdd6fa"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3b0d44e97b9c43a26e00c8e833e0cfb3a3ba67be8a478ad5acc22097c23c0421"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102605"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102605
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102605

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
4cfdf228a72ad46c16716313284bc83065b60c609f53f6a42c35349dd3710843

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102605, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102605.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102605" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102605" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102605 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102605 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102605 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102605 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102605", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 918 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16839, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1180bf527443b4de62dcb5280709e904e9faec56740a0b33b12b1f3f8404a94f" }, { "bytes": 6766, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0a0bd6886684670d9a2b646999d7a5ed0dcc031a909e0f0a056a180f76f0586d" }, { "bytes": 6463, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4cfdf228a72ad46c16716313284bc83065b60c609f53f6a42c35349dd3710843" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102605/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102605", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7805-a01a-e725865d12e9" } 5dALThYpbIfbcqAlyR5XbGW1jvF3liSmAMie3R2RJY0UIn0RJBxdm7baGRl5b6PVONpPKQ1qKvgAGQ/m0bW3DA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 5dALThYpbIfbcqAlyR5XbGW1jvF3liSmAMie3R2RJY0UIn0RJBxdm7baGRl5b6PVONpPKQ1qKvgAGQ/m0bW3DA== {"files":[{"bytes":17637,"name":"index.html","sha256":"66d958bcb505d31710b7b8b35c59901307be953fc8dfe21944ab5a1868af920f"},{"bytes":7454,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e67c9a7e9b9646092d162be2dce68709683042c3e4815b98fac4f121f3d84cae"},{"bytes":7148,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d140545e320a2a3ede18049a905210c0d2e7ede25972d0b24b805cd3f569225c"},{"bytes":2781,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"97e6d288d60e4e0e301b0ab2efde16c73a491705bbf1f2d699319bc97c1a4b89"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"121d4d6aa79e415630b9f02d9f999fca74e283cae79802f30d7bc0835fdc2055"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4758ce2a988fd61123a49cb5074540bb52cc4f293f741af092ab70d41cfcf22f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102606"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102606
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102606

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d140545e320a2a3ede18049a905210c0d2e7ede25972d0b24b805cd3f569225c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102606, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102606.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102606" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102606" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102606 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102606 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102606 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102606 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102606", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1023 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17637, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "66d958bcb505d31710b7b8b35c59901307be953fc8dfe21944ab5a1868af920f" }, { "bytes": 7454, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e67c9a7e9b9646092d162be2dce68709683042c3e4815b98fac4f121f3d84cae" }, { "bytes": 7148, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d140545e320a2a3ede18049a905210c0d2e7ede25972d0b24b805cd3f569225c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102606/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102606", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7f8f-aef7-1d152961ca62" } c6K+ahu6M0zGlzucMG1PGMDhwU89/ij4EBuUNJ/DCQy8tHUGB3xBTJHlx1kNRrK6wJnxFmqQZza5gjOVlsYkAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: c6K+ahu6M0zGlzucMG1PGMDhwU89/ij4EBuUNJ/DCQy8tHUGB3xBTJHlx1kNRrK6wJnxFmqQZza5gjOVlsYkAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17388,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9c53d459d1f2b4fa6770c4ec2e3ea230c2bab0aef68db1a6883b4e726c3222d2"},{"bytes":7248,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1e54c1564a73431e5428a0f2fdd603c892762d74adc04278dd77ec2603d5e979"},{"bytes":6942,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3cbeb9be5c1bf6c158f1837b3ec916c8b1c85e52ab7b6e23da2c8ded7f790b66"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a259a2064c5c51296494e0cec1f16e608390608e305ab557ab9089fac100a5f0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8112afe4de522a3d18950614cb7ec1f0107105e3ca270d73dc9212167424a7d9"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ff3bf09dafcc3fdb628deb01d452ef805df0a166d11aee8fddff011aa9d53ffd"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102607"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102607
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102607

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3cbeb9be5c1bf6c158f1837b3ec916c8b1c85e52ab7b6e23da2c8ded7f790b66

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102607, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102607.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102607" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102607" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102607 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102607 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102607 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102607 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102607", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 989 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17388, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9c53d459d1f2b4fa6770c4ec2e3ea230c2bab0aef68db1a6883b4e726c3222d2" }, { "bytes": 7248, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1e54c1564a73431e5428a0f2fdd603c892762d74adc04278dd77ec2603d5e979" }, { "bytes": 6942, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3cbeb9be5c1bf6c158f1837b3ec916c8b1c85e52ab7b6e23da2c8ded7f790b66" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102607/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102607", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7b0b-8bcd-904c85f06865" } JWGsz90pQtPIZcf5oWiEJKWlm07QByLtT7NKB1Rni6A8IgTVgOY1WEpxfADGoHjeZyunMzP7Es5LW3q/QirkDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: JWGsz90pQtPIZcf5oWiEJKWlm07QByLtT7NKB1Rni6A8IgTVgOY1WEpxfADGoHjeZyunMzP7Es5LW3q/QirkDA== {"files":[{"bytes":16843,"name":"index.html","sha256":"aedc61914aa7dea876dd4febcd5730c2b21cc96c411882c1d038e8b09ec9d927"},{"bytes":6770,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bd947b6391a406a6e54d261f0936fd624e8cd4d16e231c6b5496ad2fd640395b"},{"bytes":6467,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e44db3284da06122a0fe24a233e2d135cb1a832de44b95c52ddd4aa38b0882d3"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"35ace4cbcfe505151b5835712fa2938def95b0cd28449876e4ff8d06529446c2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"56f19df4601fc0d6ab12e356bcdde1b889ee9e4d545de84b771aa8cce561d612"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"59d2674e5f41f7367a21affa2660c304f81ab5884914b91cebf549409c935371"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102608"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102608
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102608

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e44db3284da06122a0fe24a233e2d135cb1a832de44b95c52ddd4aa38b0882d3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102608, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102608.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102608" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102608" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102608 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102608 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102608 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102608 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102608", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 918 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16843, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "aedc61914aa7dea876dd4febcd5730c2b21cc96c411882c1d038e8b09ec9d927" }, { "bytes": 6770, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bd947b6391a406a6e54d261f0936fd624e8cd4d16e231c6b5496ad2fd640395b" }, { "bytes": 6467, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e44db3284da06122a0fe24a233e2d135cb1a832de44b95c52ddd4aa38b0882d3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102608/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102608", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ecb-85e4-e513988398d5" } vK0fxXpVVm9bz5SwKv1aczRkPkZP39b40r1tVn3+646BBRVH4MFI8dBOP7H+4ZHze6nHsBX16WHvU7U5ozQBBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: vK0fxXpVVm9bz5SwKv1aczRkPkZP39b40r1tVn3+646BBRVH4MFI8dBOP7H+4ZHze6nHsBX16WHvU7U5ozQBBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17641,"name":"index.html","sha256":"00ffe5671b3a008e02fc6046d87caf93e40d8ea676da0d3dc93ebbb11016be72"},{"bytes":7458,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bbde10459cbc63840dceae8789737b9c895a92c5a204602e756c2dd93aa519fe"},{"bytes":7152,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3cba84300c879a676fce7e53f6a8e333648a35750320002f44613fce9e9f7b7c"},{"bytes":2781,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ae71fb3ee792e59d4702d502b3c3f2aeefde8f34627bb80e747f28681a004167"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1cf2b4420cac374c68f7d47c60f59818dc68c0293a403bbd0d66a21339bf75ff"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"57b2efe97264732a9ec011ffee5abacf918d8925098e4353e342ea9e4bf3432f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102609"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102609
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102609

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3cba84300c879a676fce7e53f6a8e333648a35750320002f44613fce9e9f7b7c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0021]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102609, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102609.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102609" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102609" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102609 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102609 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The isolation valve, the blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0021] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102609 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102609 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102609", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1023 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17641, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "00ffe5671b3a008e02fc6046d87caf93e40d8ea676da0d3dc93ebbb11016be72" }, { "bytes": 7458, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bbde10459cbc63840dceae8789737b9c895a92c5a204602e756c2dd93aa519fe" }, { "bytes": 7152, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3cba84300c879a676fce7e53f6a8e333648a35750320002f44613fce9e9f7b7c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102609/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102609", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7fff-b143-38cd1a3ec9bb" } CK2QAakLCUzFXCJr0/sFElolf1BgjLYhfJAx1OgRS9+BI87LF2+QiHg75WePhFXIhcRBCqy+IMrm8uzitVHGDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: CK2QAakLCUzFXCJr0/sFElolf1BgjLYhfJAx1OgRS9+BI87LF2+QiHg75WePhFXIhcRBCqy+IMrm8uzitVHGDg== {"files":[{"bytes":17392,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5ab6196776170bb9084605d96ddfd70a23622c8b30a79ea5036f2747249d6e35"},{"bytes":7252,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7bd07bcbfc0648bd7c1ca28f73c2de1843c83bfc2fe249de0f4d5cf3f2567a43"},{"bytes":6946,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8941d1c8e6e7ca57584b9c1807bf6bd5e8ffdac5b569958ae05513ba500ac5e2"},{"bytes":2780,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"178ad1c635ae04014814143b09cd449e758955fa5d5a06892505b5bdc6309d03"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9ba1b1a21e0cfc5f7022a34fdd86142db8cba2fd9497975601a0dc8266c1e5c0"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c81b44a483df3325b7f52cbc1ffc2033cf8dbccf29b9f446143076df2a7da150"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102610"} Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102610
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102610

Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8941d1c8e6e7ca57584b9c1807bf6bd5e8ffdac5b569958ae05513ba500ac5e2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102610, “Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102610.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102610" title: "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102610" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Four bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102610 Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102610 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: four bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Four bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the bellows cups have reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102610 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102610 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, four bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102610", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 989 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17392, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5ab6196776170bb9084605d96ddfd70a23622c8b30a79ea5036f2747249d6e35" }, { "bytes": 7252, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7bd07bcbfc0648bd7c1ca28f73c2de1843c83bfc2fe249de0f4d5cf3f2567a43" }, { "bytes": 6946, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8941d1c8e6e7ca57584b9c1807bf6bd5e8ffdac5b569958ae05513ba500ac5e2" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102610/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102610", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Four bellows cup vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-728c-84c0-571cfb6b5369" } B8/rmSKwM3exhuBBnoxxrhMv7v4OKeu8G6qZrL9Y/aKYe//t39el6vjkvZ0gG7ydJOE9SNu6izvZEAT3/ViICg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: B8/rmSKwM3exhuBBnoxxrhMv7v4OKeu8G6qZrL9Y/aKYe//t39el6vjkvZ0gG7ydJOE9SNu6izvZEAT3/ViICg== {"files":[{"bytes":17019,"name":"index.html","sha256":"46d84725e618447be27f2b85df94aaeb6cbeb9fbab8f6704eef02f26802f8319"},{"bytes":6916,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ac6c63bd72cecf95cfe62813c51a42852a67ef2a5062ae089abf91c21e2caea5"},{"bytes":6624,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"164c1c22bcff008f23cf4cf50e38b65a13ec080f562c8a1228a493e0900b8704"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8cceee388ac716da23570dcdbd023035e69a660318f0e233ea65a37f8db030cd"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0c6953778cfa7c67cea041a4666493ca6992ed9582502fb5e672de7fc494f19d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4a3498079db325cd72e576cbcedabdcda22eb64a9b0a68f22d7b5bc637120afc"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102611"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102611
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102611

Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
164c1c22bcff008f23cf4cf50e38b65a13ec080f562c8a1228a493e0900b8704

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common.

[0006]Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply.

[0011]The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0019]

  • After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller.

[0020]

  • While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102611, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102611.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102611" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102611" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "isolation valve" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "common isolation" - "compressed air supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One isolation valve.** The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] **Four zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102611 Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102611 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, cutting part of the circuit while the rest holds vacuum, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One isolation valve. The isolation valve sits in the line it controls; closing it cuts that line without disturbing the rest of the circuit. Isolation is common. [0006] Four zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of four follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into four zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The isolation valve is placed in the line from the vacuum pump, so that closing the valve cuts the whole circuit from the supply. [0011] The four zone branches are taken from a branch junction on the isolation valve outlet, so that each branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the line downstream of the isolation valve, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The isolation valve and the blow-off valve are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0019] - After the foam pad has reached the workpiece, the isolation valve is closed by the cell controller. [0020] - While the isolation valve is in the closed state, the vacuum downstream of the valve is maintained by the sealed gripping face. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the isolation valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); control of the isolation valve: common (sets which part of the circuit the valve cuts: one branch line on its own or the whole circuit); material of the isolation valve: steel; material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: four (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10163334-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102611 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102611 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one isolation valve, four zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102611", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 958 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17019, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "46d84725e618447be27f2b85df94aaeb6cbeb9fbab8f6704eef02f26802f8319" }, { "bytes": 6916, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ac6c63bd72cecf95cfe62813c51a42852a67ef2a5062ae089abf91c21e2caea5" }, { "bytes": 6624, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "164c1c22bcff008f23cf4cf50e38b65a13ec080f562c8a1228a493e0900b8704" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102611/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "isolation valve", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "common isolation", "compressed air supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102611", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, four zone face, common isolation valve, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-79c6-b76f-a255b02436f2" } XbHYBZpmCiEuuSXvkeuA50DIjsImmg55t4BtpeeebJjWDtRXkzycuHbr/V5UKZZjc/sDXpH0qoSAuup9P/HNAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: XbHYBZpmCiEuuSXvkeuA50DIjsImmg55t4BtpeeebJjWDtRXkzycuHbr/V5UKZZjc/sDXpH0qoSAuup9P/HNAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17314,"name":"index.html","sha256":"00a979baa2681282774f828d25f79777b76d0bed85dbcd6d1ac9c8d8959a2ca1"},{"bytes":7212,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"dcf24d1a47c4583ca8f7c419b139a794a3ee9cbffce4173ea49af86671830bbd"},{"bytes":6878,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fb9473d279eb8d28aebbe09847550a687bba89488dfd7bf6ecaceb2f510ef3ff"},{"bytes":2794,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cac6afe8fa6dd30b8f5a11b5dcd69587734d46804746692766cba83b3fd7acf2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"48b9020872b922075325b9855da0327440a8699fab6426988a5cd69f4ef6dd19"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6de431fd5f0fc0c79afbd1f423eb2def84d44c5439faef1563922668be576bb4"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102612"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102612
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102612

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
fb9473d279eb8d28aebbe09847550a687bba89488dfd7bf6ecaceb2f510ef3ff

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102612, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102612.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102612" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102612" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102612 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102612 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102612 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102612 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102612", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 979 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17314, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "00a979baa2681282774f828d25f79777b76d0bed85dbcd6d1ac9c8d8959a2ca1" }, { "bytes": 7212, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "dcf24d1a47c4583ca8f7c419b139a794a3ee9cbffce4173ea49af86671830bbd" }, { "bytes": 6878, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fb9473d279eb8d28aebbe09847550a687bba89488dfd7bf6ecaceb2f510ef3ff" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102612/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102612", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7e41-93d2-ce6b951c3138" } RBixf3f7OnDpxbUdKay3Kp8x0ZZvVXwvdYyUIH9VnTSSOrlbzl/XSQbY6kYVizUUhO/FfWUMDeRJurWZizxlBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: RBixf3f7OnDpxbUdKay3Kp8x0ZZvVXwvdYyUIH9VnTSSOrlbzl/XSQbY6kYVizUUhO/FfWUMDeRJurWZizxlBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17061,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0f915683474ddb940bd120e0c46c5e874bf977d59e890978ab775f7faee589ea"},{"bytes":7002,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"38dc94032ce40edd4933dffc834219b25c1b4e1231e00710c473e1cd368a5677"},{"bytes":6668,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6c1af4207b44fd72307f8d378792da086e8d73f07cb4e988132c1d0adc5dd3ea"},{"bytes":2794,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"bc769b8755d42badcd3fe443e476d58edcb0eaf408bba0db353c5835bfee7805"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7a54fd994e6e3f405a24ff56f12292c9517219736b8e5758b75c1f7b81ab77e0"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"03115f2544b95875ec835f936888c45e39d1e67013c44d69051d6cb659b60f49"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102613"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102613
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102613

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
6c1af4207b44fd72307f8d378792da086e8d73f07cb4e988132c1d0adc5dd3ea

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102613, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102613.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102613" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102613" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102613 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102613 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102613 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102613 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102614

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
9adf55b1602850e7c72c3c98b3e1949e5e50ab0d0dd77b9ea7515b5b217d3900

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102614, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102614.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102614" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102614" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102614 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102614 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102614 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102614 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102614", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 836 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16266, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "02af4300ad98e1777e049889f4605d79deafc2aa58fe2ff1fb3c61d0f015625a" }, { "bytes": 6322, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9194b2e5cb6206819a1768530896c27c144830bdc83a8220102d7a16f7df995a" }, { "bytes": 5989, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9adf55b1602850e7c72c3c98b3e1949e5e50ab0d0dd77b9ea7515b5b217d3900" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102614/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102614", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-748b-b57e-11e24003053b" } iCJ8VWzgxQfrv0F9ywss0Xd66SXglCEIarrzorJCYSsw6QeDUiUvQwkM7lfq1exqfnTaozfenocsdl+T+F+sBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: iCJ8VWzgxQfrv0F9ywss0Xd66SXglCEIarrzorJCYSsw6QeDUiUvQwkM7lfq1exqfnTaozfenocsdl+T+F+sBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17068,"name":"index.html","sha256":"910b775e2887881ff4be550cdf8ad481fe495e505d41ae63f4bef40848a3cb98"},{"bytes":7014,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"dac8ca93733b601178d245961c766e90514c0d9df602da8472756722e86bd0a9"},{"bytes":6678,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d8d2af194a13fb4ef1ca02bdac6223e0b99618a670ddb5e3d4fb13519b8268d0"},{"bytes":2807,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fc3a86e4ff2841ea5c955e4b9bdb3e1c57830e9e4b0028e84fda423669add39e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2c4ffbdee1f5cd919927522356f8c7cb9e354afef744d0aea5efac44044beef8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0e30256e502aa7a4537694a2cea4acc2346e4ab50a467931b3de5d5be8a78e39"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102615"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102615
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102615

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
d8d2af194a13fb4ef1ca02bdac6223e0b99618a670ddb5e3d4fb13519b8268d0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102615, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102615.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102615" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102615" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102615 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102615 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102615 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102615 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102615", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 942 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17068, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "910b775e2887881ff4be550cdf8ad481fe495e505d41ae63f4bef40848a3cb98" }, { "bytes": 7014, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "dac8ca93733b601178d245961c766e90514c0d9df602da8472756722e86bd0a9" }, { "bytes": 6678, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d8d2af194a13fb4ef1ca02bdac6223e0b99618a670ddb5e3d4fb13519b8268d0" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102615/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102615", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7578-900e-238a12542b4e" } Z2caPpUwmUO/SB0yjDJIHlhpPgBlHU9ajuMndKNQb+C2UCXLEURgT5asnCk6UQnpP2Bpv230wkTXeG0ueR5sCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Z2caPpUwmUO/SB0yjDJIHlhpPgBlHU9ajuMndKNQb+C2UCXLEURgT5asnCk6UQnpP2Bpv230wkTXeG0ueR5sCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16815,"name":"index.html","sha256":"43c02b76e51fb8c3b14deeb391829a410e6e7ab4913877ad587102d66cf8a802"},{"bytes":6804,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3dae8ec67cfff8fc229a7d8d0530c6204c92d4bc6df1af5e5908a00ae805435a"},{"bytes":6468,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f0ce39974f9e5de14aaa571b22148e9acd5598438289fb4fac8f3e9285918598"},{"bytes":2807,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2cf5ca036f45a0af511a0bcc44242dd9fc41c70a52f8eaee52109aa745005fa1"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7979b56c91040f5e2543ba94c817ec233ea2f1d70372955276b58527ebd9bdbb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ae899c071b5e9ec512289bf75a5ec7644f6df4f80369b4aecf4aec371c649dbf"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102616"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102616
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102616

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
f0ce39974f9e5de14aaa571b22148e9acd5598438289fb4fac8f3e9285918598

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102616, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102616.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102616" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102616" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102616 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102616 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102616 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102616 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102616", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 907 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16815, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "43c02b76e51fb8c3b14deeb391829a410e6e7ab4913877ad587102d66cf8a802" }, { "bytes": 6804, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3dae8ec67cfff8fc229a7d8d0530c6204c92d4bc6df1af5e5908a00ae805435a" }, { "bytes": 6468, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f0ce39974f9e5de14aaa571b22148e9acd5598438289fb4fac8f3e9285918598" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102616/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102616", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-74ea-94c8-3fb4bb8a7edb" } 8Cm4EvYvYakX+xZXXAJVhFIErZ7SSwPPD5w1LI79Qjikf0y3+07Bx0WYicOdbtuuz39j23WJon8QsE0csuJhDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 8Cm4EvYvYakX+xZXXAJVhFIErZ7SSwPPD5w1LI79Qjikf0y3+07Bx0WYicOdbtuuz39j23WJon8QsE0csuJhDg== {"files":[{"bytes":16266,"name":"index.html","sha256":"39130f801042e97f48f3243e2f45d526348ff98215b2aa9a4c86be32eaa84862"},{"bytes":6322,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"060941cd18692e30180d6627954064f1586f1950bd3422ecdb101e6cf41349a4"},{"bytes":5989,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"966254440230a1f59affcc9e213939690234e458950cc97f6cb31e8d7ad07365"},{"bytes":2798,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"179c7151475eb6df930b930ba275e0da54685cbc5db9a27a3901dbcf05bde77a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e3b09ce36c258d48bbd64c7122ce4f39219e6cceacb4cb0bc5a7e4dbda99a3a1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a6d60853b48bb150748061188397893945b4aa1388492f4864cb59d1f8567ffd"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102617"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102617
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102617

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
966254440230a1f59affcc9e213939690234e458950cc97f6cb31e8d7ad07365

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102617, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102617.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102617" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102617" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102617 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102617 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102617 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102617 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102618

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
3ff6e0bd772a27e25b0ad5c8fae6c7d02f334438b2f0bd296e95d75f288e8dfe

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102618, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102618.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102618" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102618" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102618 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102618 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102618 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102618 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102618", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 942 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17068, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4951494daf076ebdca45eff29c48e522c98620c4568437472a564678f47d74e7" }, { "bytes": 7014, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f079f91268d64e94b7d9539171d2a902d6463684e8dd49654ab2d72d7b1b6489" }, { "bytes": 6678, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3ff6e0bd772a27e25b0ad5c8fae6c7d02f334438b2f0bd296e95d75f288e8dfe" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102618/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102618", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7160-99e4-9b839652b7f0" } kIcKhPADpFJuOazXX2le3nTmZ78+aIFEoJH5gFfZftPlxueRBxKkQv5gdqPS9ao/B//0oN6zGAbJnTFamMekAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: kIcKhPADpFJuOazXX2le3nTmZ78+aIFEoJH5gFfZftPlxueRBxKkQv5gdqPS9ao/B//0oN6zGAbJnTFamMekAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16815,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7c8f58cd211ee4eb23270b4c84bda78237e4da997285862d2d75663d21d7c147"},{"bytes":6804,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f61d0426f632fa15407f73010776f33b8a3d84958b3fcc402483815bbcab5b76"},{"bytes":6468,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"96329ce653f096b708ef356c0434ff2ca5f8a87916427e456ad41c74f7a78428"},{"bytes":2807,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5bb5fd10ecf0b4d1d26ad48d7c3c4ae11dea6dd0553c5201d92b7de2fd18cfc9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7cee31845ab3048a70b2632af387c6bab0bab4c148e63f578f58aae4baa26a7f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9c7930464dc14030b87bd4b8af1644540c86f246c5de6075ee164c050cff5904"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102619"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102619
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102619

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
96329ce653f096b708ef356c0434ff2ca5f8a87916427e456ad41c74f7a78428

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102619, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102619.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102619" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102619" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102619 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102619 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102619 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102619 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102619", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 907 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16815, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7c8f58cd211ee4eb23270b4c84bda78237e4da997285862d2d75663d21d7c147" }, { "bytes": 6804, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f61d0426f632fa15407f73010776f33b8a3d84958b3fcc402483815bbcab5b76" }, { "bytes": 6468, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "96329ce653f096b708ef356c0434ff2ca5f8a87916427e456ad41c74f7a78428" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102619/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102619", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7b1d-91be-e173a7adc055" } 1eiyFRM09nZB+F1ds5RLfZiWMCjEMvBd4YlEmj8SVywQ0Fv/QXf8/vWwBCcuzI1amCcZekLHFu3j7t1CMetpAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 1eiyFRM09nZB+F1ds5RLfZiWMCjEMvBd4YlEmj8SVywQ0Fv/QXf8/vWwBCcuzI1amCcZekLHFu3j7t1CMetpAA== {"files":[{"bytes":16341,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b97309df1b08d96baf4da6e941e46ae4d358ea1720c2570cc457a4f49671f377"},{"bytes":6337,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"cfa17447112c9328f2d643b900735bee40e6447b8b8fe521762b00dc55b8ab0a"},{"bytes":6024,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2e67d17b91cadf042233d7284c571ef9f8d1ac7973a11856da2428e2bb3f36b3"},{"bytes":2754,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"6448249fa3b495181aac231d06981c06cad093fb0d39eff5574dab195c877433"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"43baac109a19303a38460990b20756c6cf80a726cb71afd1068586c07e03eb56"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3834e3b2dedfc22dbb911c4d5c5959084168536421b03f950bbaec9039736c70"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102620"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102620
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102620

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2e67d17b91cadf042233d7284c571ef9f8d1ac7973a11856da2428e2bb3f36b3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102620, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102620.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102620" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102620" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102620 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102620 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102620 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102620 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102620", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16341, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b97309df1b08d96baf4da6e941e46ae4d358ea1720c2570cc457a4f49671f377" }, { "bytes": 6337, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cfa17447112c9328f2d643b900735bee40e6447b8b8fe521762b00dc55b8ab0a" }, { "bytes": 6024, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2e67d17b91cadf042233d7284c571ef9f8d1ac7973a11856da2428e2bb3f36b3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102620/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102620", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-752d-9e65-3292814f9549" } R10u/sXukgREHI8nTPwbSQAfatP0ufwEjT7w3MMY2owBG1UL3LSYCum+4hUGsD43QmB0M+A4CQxRgEtJWa54Bg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: R10u/sXukgREHI8nTPwbSQAfatP0ufwEjT7w3MMY2owBG1UL3LSYCum+4hUGsD43QmB0M+A4CQxRgEtJWa54Bg== {"files":[{"bytes":17149,"name":"index.html","sha256":"653e6b6301967e5401e138f0f1c2a943904e5051adf1189bf35666ce1db3df35"},{"bytes":7035,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d1f724d97cb669037c48ed83cd0797cebb1d442dd1ebfc2d2064a5edc8ae42c4"},{"bytes":6719,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d4bc6fddb6ca1531ad523cd7ae73c7692a276cc0a20dcea9a70b1a57a189de18"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3a4a129b50acbcaf359ad8261438497311b629b9be26433348715ca9e6716661"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"55ebf5c2c0924204eb5729f279af1bbaf62096b8f1af9f5a2a5bfcbc4fb722f7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"dec82691f99a378060cdc5af78e32ecc13df435b5ddb8f455fec4ff05f735ef8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102621"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102621
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102621

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d4bc6fddb6ca1531ad523cd7ae73c7692a276cc0a20dcea9a70b1a57a189de18

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102621, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102621.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102621" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102621" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102621 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102621 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102621 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102621 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102621", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17149, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "653e6b6301967e5401e138f0f1c2a943904e5051adf1189bf35666ce1db3df35" }, { "bytes": 7035, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d1f724d97cb669037c48ed83cd0797cebb1d442dd1ebfc2d2064a5edc8ae42c4" }, { "bytes": 6719, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d4bc6fddb6ca1531ad523cd7ae73c7692a276cc0a20dcea9a70b1a57a189de18" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102621/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102621", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7543-8063-18a2214f10e9" } es+vvEVdUtor09B8tJRVxia8QN65swf/Ehas3a2/Sis8gIlbabvF1QLNqOBC3HcSc4YZxebiLfTrUiTTOE0bDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: es+vvEVdUtor09B8tJRVxia8QN65swf/Ehas3a2/Sis8gIlbabvF1QLNqOBC3HcSc4YZxebiLfTrUiTTOE0bDA== {"files":[{"bytes":16896,"name":"index.html","sha256":"561c9c2dce77778f51bddb4ae2ebfa3fe3c282471766071f723809d01aff6754"},{"bytes":6825,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"44e5a67ba35573ff1762924ad42d132aaf5ad03a3dcc0aeaebec839973b5f982"},{"bytes":6509,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bc33e5bf04a622ea0c52bd323ada0828af1190a6dedcf98dfaa32f4467e7992f"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7829b71aa450baaadd71e158824cbd1187c67bc10c061fe1f9dd166f425935bf"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"93077d7d70271b343efd4b9af614f2642b57a44a93494557cbe1c5959c59655b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e03edd1a14d5cd508258b88cff5ef25067eed1d022dfad357cd1fb0ea87f6d31"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102622"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102622
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102622

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bc33e5bf04a622ea0c52bd323ada0828af1190a6dedcf98dfaa32f4467e7992f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102622, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102622.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102622" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102622" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102622 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102622 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102622 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102622 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102623

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
8cb024b7e8e6230e1671de2921e09d54ee8c41fcc9db3a252df98f90089d3e04

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102623, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102623.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102623" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102623" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102623 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102623 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102623 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102623 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102623", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16342, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9ca023299eacd52dc423b275b18ec9c4b1dc88066278ea5b7c69438fa8652fa2" }, { "bytes": 6338, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5b1450715ced52af862189e1d7104f48158dc5264e248fd6efc45d24bb036ff8" }, { "bytes": 6025, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8cb024b7e8e6230e1671de2921e09d54ee8c41fcc9db3a252df98f90089d3e04" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102623/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102623", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7b73-93ae-fc8779082696" } z5q/ZReFRw24LGdwOFkG/sn+pTLoK2143Keme615SFAxjPTvYVbia8NVPHco7O6HQ1pryAw5vwWDpjPFC7dXDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: z5q/ZReFRw24LGdwOFkG/sn+pTLoK2143Keme615SFAxjPTvYVbia8NVPHco7O6HQ1pryAw5vwWDpjPFC7dXDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17150,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c41d0598ad40f4bdb991ffbaa4892118732d7be6e731578b7141a2702d117c23"},{"bytes":7036,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3c1b19fdf31b1aa875a3a7a30c097f3e671960982c58cdbe1585b2c2bc98cbdf"},{"bytes":6720,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a94918d7eb9e190cb0f9e291785b17ceaf5b9bd3715e57b28103d303bbaa209c"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b34f1183113524b8e6cd6566da5dc4c44ddd0e5fabdba1f5310d4e351ac4f8ef"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e98b6fafb4b5e13161c2a5b5707609a4e473c189b8d7dee41ae77324624a2250"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"630a07aa89cd76fd8a96fc1e8f4c3e3418319526d2ecb306a41efd9efca5d8c2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102624"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102624
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102624

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a94918d7eb9e190cb0f9e291785b17ceaf5b9bd3715e57b28103d303bbaa209c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102624, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102624.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102624" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102624" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102624 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102624 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102624 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102624 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102624", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17150, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c41d0598ad40f4bdb991ffbaa4892118732d7be6e731578b7141a2702d117c23" }, { "bytes": 7036, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3c1b19fdf31b1aa875a3a7a30c097f3e671960982c58cdbe1585b2c2bc98cbdf" }, { "bytes": 6720, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a94918d7eb9e190cb0f9e291785b17ceaf5b9bd3715e57b28103d303bbaa209c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102624/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102624", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7d8c-9ea9-a08333acafad" } DkB4GNNF9WxRLe1NgZmMxyGlHmKrr2AK5K6AejWZHfsStbdMqUZMU2c1jM/WvsjV6KWLtBh3GmT6wzMElpcTAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DkB4GNNF9WxRLe1NgZmMxyGlHmKrr2AK5K6AejWZHfsStbdMqUZMU2c1jM/WvsjV6KWLtBh3GmT6wzMElpcTAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16897,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d5f1ea227c8b6e739f5e28f91db63af81e16762f1cf9a30a370927816979edbc"},{"bytes":6826,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9876d2f8c1e240dd97c75eabe15885c7d5ce8ffe4f7cacc7314527861637bf2f"},{"bytes":6510,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a0a0109b3869bde661830ee8126e761db24e9860d342cde51dd4ecbac304f898"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9e93715a9d1b5128d3a64ad39ce24f90615ff8f4e1c2c19a8f303244885253df"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3b3ff7e40624d6ea68c43cbb065a9001d02a8e8ef1c717860f8fcda35c8ca729"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d3c02e3ca8446e74ee70cff3063d98689b96cb9e794737fe17c6a755eb12e206"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102625"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102625
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102625

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a0a0109b3869bde661830ee8126e761db24e9860d342cde51dd4ecbac304f898

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102625, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102625.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102625" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102625" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102625 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102625 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102625 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102625 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102625", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 919 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16897, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d5f1ea227c8b6e739f5e28f91db63af81e16762f1cf9a30a370927816979edbc" }, { "bytes": 6826, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9876d2f8c1e240dd97c75eabe15885c7d5ce8ffe4f7cacc7314527861637bf2f" }, { "bytes": 6510, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a0a0109b3869bde661830ee8126e761db24e9860d342cde51dd4ecbac304f898" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102625/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102625", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-710b-a10d-85ccd5e9f141" } bIItWhzSFgZUDjapWTZ3uh3oRxLMRbeXcIm8OmnEadsWF9iz7B7g4nTqhwsezegRnJzPmkV1vNR5BCO5H1Z/BA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: bIItWhzSFgZUDjapWTZ3uh3oRxLMRbeXcIm8OmnEadsWF9iz7B7g4nTqhwsezegRnJzPmkV1vNR5BCO5H1Z/BA== {"files":[{"bytes":16346,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1737d595ab5f8aea9d12b648ce0deadfa62475b9f1d52d93905fc8296cb1ffbf"},{"bytes":6342,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9576561572c88a3a83b43a40c3809104e5847cd45c62bba784620f29134c2c7c"},{"bytes":6029,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4d47e3371e8834e79b3fa09f80cbab21e69c7182b282e06dcb5c328c8057009b"},{"bytes":2754,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8f5e337e255150491bba0ca3f9b8d310269e49b1d2069313cb653b811377e015"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d20575027c3ea8e6e2529244204a7e6eb1306e9abd356a357118144f26e8c9f9"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"facbacad0bda3244dae1eef79d9695515a2dfff63191d6ee152189c2e85e5d9e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102626"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102626
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102626

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
4d47e3371e8834e79b3fa09f80cbab21e69c7182b282e06dcb5c328c8057009b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102626, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102626.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102626" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102626" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102626 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102626 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102626 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102626 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102626", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16346, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1737d595ab5f8aea9d12b648ce0deadfa62475b9f1d52d93905fc8296cb1ffbf" }, { "bytes": 6342, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9576561572c88a3a83b43a40c3809104e5847cd45c62bba784620f29134c2c7c" }, { "bytes": 6029, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4d47e3371e8834e79b3fa09f80cbab21e69c7182b282e06dcb5c328c8057009b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102626/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102626", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7c02-8eaf-e22d95dbcea5" } wrOgeioEo5+Q2EVW9wk/jTUmHL1llR1xilhFE6bVqY4lz8e5hT0GbxRvIMwposSzJkxFGeBcwVedjDZHOy5RDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: wrOgeioEo5+Q2EVW9wk/jTUmHL1llR1xilhFE6bVqY4lz8e5hT0GbxRvIMwposSzJkxFGeBcwVedjDZHOy5RDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17154,"name":"index.html","sha256":"915f937e43a2303259a2f54c288a2e4379e673701ecae3a5b26aff3f2b941ad0"},{"bytes":7040,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"8bfbc8643f1b0e7d2a1a66686558ce0159a2e660caa0fd18c3a2a828a77a15eb"},{"bytes":6724,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"51bea8c0a9f99f4f64a55ced511408abdcb55c17ddb27860d1c4a8ca5af2155a"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"76e70fc2fcbfb8b766fbb93d68abf888a5c3ca622575b0b71492b0059a053eb3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"deeb54229cc4eb72988cf368235b25d35e5cdc84dffd2e6a5b97284ebf29acbc"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"28fcdb905955fe1a7c421984e8078bcc681908fcc0b4bdf15657d98381f01153"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102627"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102627
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102627

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
51bea8c0a9f99f4f64a55ced511408abdcb55c17ddb27860d1c4a8ca5af2155a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102627, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102627.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102627" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102627" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102627 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102627 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102627 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102627 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102628

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e812bdabcce7dc59cc57d437b0dff0b68f79c3d4d4bc379dcac7acfbba5b7009

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102628, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102628.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102628" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102628" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102628 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102628 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102628 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102628 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102628", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 919 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16901, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "efb6829caac47be43a1c83b07b177cf9456495d4d5f33d0c03a1f4da1de64c73" }, { "bytes": 6830, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6cf444c7f2268acccc8cb7710f1ff6944df48f383fc40c9ff2254598f815e02a" }, { "bytes": 6514, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e812bdabcce7dc59cc57d437b0dff0b68f79c3d4d4bc379dcac7acfbba5b7009" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102628/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102628", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ec8-ac45-a0e0ef318f76" } Qjf9ubiqCtETBMOJqQvU/EBE9l9C2TUBEKtrQQyCLB6skxKgoTKBP7ubRI2Y6FD9xmhk7W+4hLtVKXJv1RBGBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Qjf9ubiqCtETBMOJqQvU/EBE9l9C2TUBEKtrQQyCLB6skxKgoTKBP7ubRI2Y6FD9xmhk7W+4hLtVKXJv1RBGBg== {"files":[{"bytes":16535,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a8a027e1f44acac356f73f7da1c0bc2e594c2b312335d2e80650e385b86b9e1d"},{"bytes":6499,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7fa60cf8d4eed697636533416b0ea879caacafef91473d561d1e9f2d3aaca0f0"},{"bytes":6196,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fe492d86e9c1f7cd5dc6f4935f85e98bd12b53a9564dc3cba53ca47bb9646b1f"},{"bytes":2733,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a9f998d065b9e153ee84988808728dd9ba5688cc1821eae83bd5db9a21e066b5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7342cd8f511e79d213296beb1ec817956a01bbcb0f0522078b6ec42f6d40296b"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"480aef1bb4b76d78462010829052c4bc754cf4d2c621b2db03d5b9f695b1d655"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102629"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102629
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102629

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
fe492d86e9c1f7cd5dc6f4935f85e98bd12b53a9564dc3cba53ca47bb9646b1f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102629, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102629.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102629" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102629" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102629 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102629 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102629 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102629 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102629", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 888 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16535, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a8a027e1f44acac356f73f7da1c0bc2e594c2b312335d2e80650e385b86b9e1d" }, { "bytes": 6499, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7fa60cf8d4eed697636533416b0ea879caacafef91473d561d1e9f2d3aaca0f0" }, { "bytes": 6196, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fe492d86e9c1f7cd5dc6f4935f85e98bd12b53a9564dc3cba53ca47bb9646b1f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102629/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102629", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7177-9c7b-b635f615bb6b" } 7DJYa+bkjntXqnVgZhdmfT9vj8EhAjo8cp40a5jg1LokRypkLJbHFGE/JLhHysEursz1EMOR7cD4yEJ1F74yDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 7DJYa+bkjntXqnVgZhdmfT9vj8EhAjo8cp40a5jg1LokRypkLJbHFGE/JLhHysEursz1EMOR7cD4yEJ1F74yDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17343,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9328149429fd9ce049208e6740080a4394b1d31e98a29914efeb3859e990fcdd"},{"bytes":7197,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"26f252cd8c47a34397c52c2a4e0bb7cdc62ddfd70ad52a451d4f473f2b47092b"},{"bytes":6891,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"665cb3c5f429788446649e0c5a252c78d1c1f6281b24b558f54b0feac70b5205"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c655ed834078c43d05d107467fcd80a99d556f454784bacf664cc4c059bd000d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"48376f3287a3a76f3f667f537df87be670432627e140e197c30ff43ec33effbe"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"fde1484f6c31ababf43a82e97eb5330d0ff13114358e3105489b1d3e493443a0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102630"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102630
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102630

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
665cb3c5f429788446649e0c5a252c78d1c1f6281b24b558f54b0feac70b5205

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102630, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102630.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102630" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102630" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102630 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102630 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102630 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102630 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102630", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 994 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17343, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9328149429fd9ce049208e6740080a4394b1d31e98a29914efeb3859e990fcdd" }, { "bytes": 7197, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "26f252cd8c47a34397c52c2a4e0bb7cdc62ddfd70ad52a451d4f473f2b47092b" }, { "bytes": 6891, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "665cb3c5f429788446649e0c5a252c78d1c1f6281b24b558f54b0feac70b5205" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102630/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102630", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-71e1-b4fa-3abd2fd3dbac" } ZlZemXeiMcBEPn5tbE2mxwhcyBX83qAsK5qPvRTKbjNoV4/ksU1fTSuAfOhbqDPHeG6UXNSmTpQWcMGu3PhOBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: ZlZemXeiMcBEPn5tbE2mxwhcyBX83qAsK5qPvRTKbjNoV4/ksU1fTSuAfOhbqDPHeG6UXNSmTpQWcMGu3PhOBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17090,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cca7220d28226b586caafd9288c55a42978d0d68962b4bf9680d3f0c7047e705"},{"bytes":6987,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f3437cf129a0d5ed7d6d6aea3f94539626cc1a597c569721cd542a874849c601"},{"bytes":6681,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cc48108190f7549385ba3ce27ec0a7d2c637b567d1255619adee8e8fa9141079"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8fefba329cd7b92dc31445e1ab1fa25d8ddd1757a2d4cdcdffe8612e3ae9ee94"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d4534c89b6fd28e8dad77a85c509433476aeb37c5590c72c48bd94f35c19f287"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"da2dbf9d6e584f6af05ecf23f66d6752a33eb2ade40fa4c81652b0c02e4c3c6e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102631"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102631
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102631

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
cc48108190f7549385ba3ce27ec0a7d2c637b567d1255619adee8e8fa9141079

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102631, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102631.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102631" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102631" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102631 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102631 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102631 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102631 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102631", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17090, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cca7220d28226b586caafd9288c55a42978d0d68962b4bf9680d3f0c7047e705" }, { "bytes": 6987, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f3437cf129a0d5ed7d6d6aea3f94539626cc1a597c569721cd542a874849c601" }, { "bytes": 6681, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cc48108190f7549385ba3ce27ec0a7d2c637b567d1255619adee8e8fa9141079" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102631/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102631", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-79ee-88c5-5d181e8906e8" } sYnbHIZ/u23WHohdTaG4P2jQjQt9CdQtawolw70mv3VLNXMXh7HCfa1GNaomIxwoVp3OFeeAsekd0QN4/GAFBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sYnbHIZ/u23WHohdTaG4P2jQjQt9CdQtawolw70mv3VLNXMXh7HCfa1GNaomIxwoVp3OFeeAsekd0QN4/GAFBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16481,"name":"index.html","sha256":"dfddb0e748e3511a4ca6ef3349c5d96761e49e96a8f714754ec80044dcdb30d6"},{"bytes":6445,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3e2aabc84bf8565f0a8e5fa6055605271e105a9f8fe3e026f8e2c1764143a58b"},{"bytes":6142,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ed8d8f1ae252857838b47c7b9835160afd969c0bd0a9b66677c5206cb1170567"},{"bytes":2733,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9c13d6006c518a9799513f7d01051f9de7874f5eb08b16dd39c32a5df4d27db7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ac3e8b08bc80c71ae0a264d19d0a3121af638977b0ca00a2640a12e83f8d06f3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"102bcca32fadca9369d6adc2cda9c3626eae60b0b8929d88a8a9822256e8bcb1"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102632"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102632
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102632

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ed8d8f1ae252857838b47c7b9835160afd969c0bd0a9b66677c5206cb1170567

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102632, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102632.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102632" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102632" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102632 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102632 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102632 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102632 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102633

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
fb88232736975a230838262ebf71294ac9662f9593ed2bd2a2401cf2df0296dd

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102633, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102633.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102633" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102633" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102633 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102633 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102633 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102633 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102633", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 979 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17289, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7664e4bc5aa1b08feb525958b9eaf6fb422e650f2eb0ea7a11d57578a0b1b069" }, { "bytes": 7143, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "62ed24400917090e6c7daf62cc4e0bd0212b145c1ee19d41e19b3f0280cb99ef" }, { "bytes": 6837, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fb88232736975a230838262ebf71294ac9662f9593ed2bd2a2401cf2df0296dd" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102633/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102633", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-797c-8d18-05925cfa6170" } 6KUmseCFw5hm2sz5prBESBmvQqVpZ7pS9a//Pxwdcrk5jjFncvF/iiPfqGXE5rWvI8DvGnMyM0YhsoiM7RWSCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 6KUmseCFw5hm2sz5prBESBmvQqVpZ7pS9a//Pxwdcrk5jjFncvF/iiPfqGXE5rWvI8DvGnMyM0YhsoiM7RWSCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17036,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1a1ddc80b8d1c52d7f3ad1ba36a706dc5eff4d92bf15f1b509e5b80b3ae0d3dd"},{"bytes":6933,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"15b404c81ffab1260c263547c06b7307ed1a11b2b61c39f12f2d987e0bbb4363"},{"bytes":6627,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"90ae9e254652589585c17f938ec31ca9d195d7b84d74c40f4212dafa8d2d551b"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"937e3d86d77d83824d22e63f71b4a4d48af0f285bf53fde98dac1388fd7e16cb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1c8b955fbf4bf8f58bf6aade4cb9c5945b81dbad0509858e3b0a93aa5e9b9e64"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"091900e6f81d27ec16b099a84e74ff89a41078b39d79e83f1657fc0c60413733"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102634"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102634
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102634

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
90ae9e254652589585c17f938ec31ca9d195d7b84d74c40f4212dafa8d2d551b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102634, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102634.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102634" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102634" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102634 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102634 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102634 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102634 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102634", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 944 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17036, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1a1ddc80b8d1c52d7f3ad1ba36a706dc5eff4d92bf15f1b509e5b80b3ae0d3dd" }, { "bytes": 6933, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "15b404c81ffab1260c263547c06b7307ed1a11b2b61c39f12f2d987e0bbb4363" }, { "bytes": 6627, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "90ae9e254652589585c17f938ec31ca9d195d7b84d74c40f4212dafa8d2d551b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102634/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102634", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-72cc-9450-e4948eb6deb7" } G4c9vm9vf5mz766QXGfrHq1xASTkRsEtmEwOsHnTOb1EUDTHSUm1Jbf8U99iiqcjEm4WY2aF2c/fJQUWS0WUDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: G4c9vm9vf5mz766QXGfrHq1xASTkRsEtmEwOsHnTOb1EUDTHSUm1Jbf8U99iiqcjEm4WY2aF2c/fJQUWS0WUDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16235,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1dd1ba2cd46bb1d7beae58c142141a802930e8e0ac207ad4cfbef3cfba99031a"},{"bytes":6247,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e0e5497d6ccd49c877438125a369779ed00ec086c7e6d8dc9e5ce6e1427b0b5b"},{"bytes":5942,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b63c5e7f07ae84528d3475c39144d02f3742f3bfc082eaef132ba5575414f811"},{"bytes":2746,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b100ff6bb6521ae6d66dfadc38db187dc8cd60fa2fab3c40a0ab5f9d34995cde"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3d2fddcec17891b8b82225191982511d492c463b7d4abe224f0251a47e627091"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cf68b43f231c5e3802a958dc0b31eb4cd2450b6ce0c62baae874143921fc4026"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102635"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102635
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102635

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b63c5e7f07ae84528d3475c39144d02f3742f3bfc082eaef132ba5575414f811

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102635, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102635.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102635" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102635" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102635 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102635 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102635 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102635 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102635", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 836 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16235, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1dd1ba2cd46bb1d7beae58c142141a802930e8e0ac207ad4cfbef3cfba99031a" }, { "bytes": 6247, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e0e5497d6ccd49c877438125a369779ed00ec086c7e6d8dc9e5ce6e1427b0b5b" }, { "bytes": 5942, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b63c5e7f07ae84528d3475c39144d02f3742f3bfc082eaef132ba5575414f811" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102635/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102635", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7946-8874-5f0ba97d70d6" } 8NtZZk+DSKw8mh0nbntWe5GtvQIvsbBYDB0KBnDHQ5pa/qi3kk+e3C+cQcoa3NLywyF6dXol4N4jWhQXNfU0Dg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 8NtZZk+DSKw8mh0nbntWe5GtvQIvsbBYDB0KBnDHQ5pa/qi3kk+e3C+cQcoa3NLywyF6dXol4N4jWhQXNfU0Dg== {"files":[{"bytes":17043,"name":"index.html","sha256":"19d5828661b72bb9c950d277024dedee628f5c5e4dbf36aaa28659984e9ae2dc"},{"bytes":6945,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"395ffcc920dc002b0199f35b026bd45300cf7fb903848b5e94ff48011fca1dc2"},{"bytes":6637,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"554f3f024ae8ecb72cf85d9632ae5cbc4dec7baa542134627424882e1338c31f"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"13660b3a3b292d7ce704e8938e0bd3b851e50a17b3798b7cc0e507af3440894f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f87289d74588c950712c105e38930405681295c4d3c2765cac81c3b0e7015bb2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"830d50bacf2a449fcd51c172c54d797bc3b7162156896eedb3d3fc8c297df491"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102636"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102636
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102636

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
554f3f024ae8ecb72cf85d9632ae5cbc4dec7baa542134627424882e1338c31f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102636, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102636.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102636" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102636" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102636 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102636 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102636 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102636 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102636", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 942 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17043, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "19d5828661b72bb9c950d277024dedee628f5c5e4dbf36aaa28659984e9ae2dc" }, { "bytes": 6945, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "395ffcc920dc002b0199f35b026bd45300cf7fb903848b5e94ff48011fca1dc2" }, { "bytes": 6637, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "554f3f024ae8ecb72cf85d9632ae5cbc4dec7baa542134627424882e1338c31f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102636/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102636", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-76b6-8e57-3c953b744d28" } VIo1eb+aEwJRRO2RNSAQJzYNIBly6L2jokO6kFpFbi8s1qsxMUsPT+wO+KuU3mhDK5kzM348FAaWWj9wATRYDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: VIo1eb+aEwJRRO2RNSAQJzYNIBly6L2jokO6kFpFbi8s1qsxMUsPT+wO+KuU3mhDK5kzM348FAaWWj9wATRYDA== {"files":[{"bytes":16790,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f87674d623dc25722f6a38e036fad60921725d49aa2d1cf19ecc86562bb463f4"},{"bytes":6735,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"455d848c343fae735278531491595ddde2cdfbb5f389d128e777a2c37584758a"},{"bytes":6427,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"41fd075bac4099930d65f54da95d5f7ade994a45de35ba87876d9d7c4cbc868b"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"91e269adaeabbfc400e9149b288d9451e500eecbbc0149cf7c5e477d4d068460"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8efe2ee803d89304ec7c17ea68873ef4f4cabe0d44bf16852f98ec17f74d74b2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e4b46f02fcc765a2e0940f6cdcd75284cf976b93f1ddfd8440f37e6a73fbbbc2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102637"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102637
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102637

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
41fd075bac4099930d65f54da95d5f7ade994a45de35ba87876d9d7c4cbc868b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102637, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102637.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102637" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102637" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102637 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102637 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102637 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102637 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102638

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
0a10f759c5100eadcbd62b502e6933acf3a23fff9b1c05be78eb8f27fa221444

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102638, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102638.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102638" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102638" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102638 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102638 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102638 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102638 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102638", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 836 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16235, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d9fb858d5b7ea32c4341a6af8d3a552221bac67a35c0febcfaceb79a8eb808af" }, { "bytes": 6247, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "8b14dac435272f7608fe43844b3c9d87825e42c9e869b1ced416c238cacd0e13" }, { "bytes": 5942, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0a10f759c5100eadcbd62b502e6933acf3a23fff9b1c05be78eb8f27fa221444" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102638/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102638", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7f53-a76d-2b8a8f123bb1" } qmFVFP7GI2w/9WDIEik9P457NN5sbZnWx0USpSe7xymyjW2Cey7SJjJpG4cgueZJyJD76YSgPbCLO1m/AJtfBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: qmFVFP7GI2w/9WDIEik9P457NN5sbZnWx0USpSe7xymyjW2Cey7SJjJpG4cgueZJyJD76YSgPbCLO1m/AJtfBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17043,"name":"index.html","sha256":"70b90662b860921e10ac0fdc50b4a0ba8b2cc3223bbaea572afba385c5f027b8"},{"bytes":6945,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d4825bc955e9aa7077bdc3d76b60c564a4097b1f7933dc216720549748667e03"},{"bytes":6637,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2f16608861092bc7cd8659f3a9138d08c28cac01e17350ef83f2c796cb5221d2"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fc371ae1723955f8590ac99abf368f847f93f35f5c1fe326dc302ec0d0b45a67"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"81add4c93ecefd8344f2a22a9ef288fff75e294321bab3f9bdce8a65144d8015"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"401ee4132e5b7d9215b999c74325d1fc481d618a3c3e177058b697f1f91e1558"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102639"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102639
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102639

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2f16608861092bc7cd8659f3a9138d08c28cac01e17350ef83f2c796cb5221d2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102639, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102639.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102639" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102639" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102639 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102639 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102639 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102639 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102639", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 942 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17043, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "70b90662b860921e10ac0fdc50b4a0ba8b2cc3223bbaea572afba385c5f027b8" }, { "bytes": 6945, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d4825bc955e9aa7077bdc3d76b60c564a4097b1f7933dc216720549748667e03" }, { "bytes": 6637, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2f16608861092bc7cd8659f3a9138d08c28cac01e17350ef83f2c796cb5221d2" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102639/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102639", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7304-a886-88f9455b3a1c" } pdw0xpriaidskZoTMhRy1LG1Li3GN/BkdoLJmeafEBJD4Wlm4FoUawmzfuCnTF/N71I7WANT6s+68NYFWWliBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: pdw0xpriaidskZoTMhRy1LG1Li3GN/BkdoLJmeafEBJD4Wlm4FoUawmzfuCnTF/N71I7WANT6s+68NYFWWliBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16790,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f537e2f0450b38d3bebe69fb1b83cd2e719e6d974f71b3265f6178f37d060824"},{"bytes":6735,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"46eb3a9bef785f266ec6a461d00cc79f6a8479595ca6f4dd6b344bf53b519684"},{"bytes":6427,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9868fb407ee09a4ebb667a8369e857e56c7dc2974d7bf8a77de7f10bbd1335b4"},{"bytes":2755,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7e65122b52893450b9d63b3db40a8b46652acd19aecaa88aa8ad821184bc940d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"41c9d6adb117c82a75f530611c082df3c7f075067a954efca6980012159fa078"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"846342838ceab6f7aa155d4ef3d8caf8df5a4454d420911f23baf3cefc09bf74"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102640"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102640
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102640

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9868fb407ee09a4ebb667a8369e857e56c7dc2974d7bf8a77de7f10bbd1335b4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102640, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102640.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102640" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102640" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102640 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102640 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining one manifold outlet is plugged and carries no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102640 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102640 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102640", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 907 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16790, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f537e2f0450b38d3bebe69fb1b83cd2e719e6d974f71b3265f6178f37d060824" }, { "bytes": 6735, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "46eb3a9bef785f266ec6a461d00cc79f6a8479595ca6f4dd6b344bf53b519684" }, { "bytes": 6427, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9868fb407ee09a4ebb667a8369e857e56c7dc2974d7bf8a77de7f10bbd1335b4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102640/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102640", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-717d-a349-1d07f18227c6" } 3gUY1AnwHCwT1niYxjtaO0uysvr6DV1Fg5HzSRsNKDACKV8kwOrSBW0gU2EviQiA7ZQhyvKop7FJMXVf1iDnBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 3gUY1AnwHCwT1niYxjtaO0uysvr6DV1Fg5HzSRsNKDACKV8kwOrSBW0gU2EviQiA7ZQhyvKop7FJMXVf1iDnBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16399,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2b2ec418fcfc432e907c30cff257d0c233972f742d1d1c8a0875f1a226ae79d0"},{"bytes":6399,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6ff88ec87f7601d9d08ee0a92eea550c4167e7a9a8843b531b18fc9b0dbb277c"},{"bytes":6077,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0db421eb178b75b7ccc3225af35e25e34dba1d3c87993e279efc4011b934390b"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5b6e88c2e99d4d934ef2959f1cd7018049d190ab650a00db0ba1f4ff671bccb0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"186c8a921e58bce6791a2fd293b76d129cc8d8385ef189387124f5c0f6aab076"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8bbf5824a7d55e375ec145b7587db97825ca6e20d5e1714f013afb715e25de6a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102641"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102641
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102641

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
0db421eb178b75b7ccc3225af35e25e34dba1d3c87993e279efc4011b934390b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102641, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102641.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102641" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102641" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102641 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102641 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102641 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102641 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102642

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
010be46a16cf2b383f13b53776e9a8f78aa5f70ace0b08fc2bca433c0ce7fe86

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102642, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102642.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102642" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102642" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102642 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102642 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102642 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102642 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102642", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17207, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "225b252254744ae4752d0b55a1843bfe025e1c9ba3a193bf0520631824552a8e" }, { "bytes": 7097, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0ed92a56f2710adb0afae2dcd58d60c0e3d4a73703ed321dba2b1aa102c29e0f" }, { "bytes": 6772, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "010be46a16cf2b383f13b53776e9a8f78aa5f70ace0b08fc2bca433c0ce7fe86" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102642/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102642", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ac9-b05f-019969a0b555" } 7Dv3DNhJKurggW6xk/sbgtPh4KeAQqC1Gn5KP6f0wiABZqZbVguVjsfGKJM9uB5EMOd/rkN6r+qfRV/ZDGbbBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 7Dv3DNhJKurggW6xk/sbgtPh4KeAQqC1Gn5KP6f0wiABZqZbVguVjsfGKJM9uB5EMOd/rkN6r+qfRV/ZDGbbBg== {"files":[{"bytes":16954,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5007228dfe04e6192cda5f3e0725d47fcf185b8c1c9b9ae75dde829f2f2ffb30"},{"bytes":6887,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"592205f44064ddd14b591a34d47d8da77eb7717892adfab5e428a9210654840d"},{"bytes":6562,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d5153ab48ba16baa7dfb2bff22ca715eab8823e858f9a7c3c2bbc3e7732b94ff"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"31da47725c5c06810bf84545d4574ef5297bd0f082ae00c0cdd11f53fc75632b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0165a11ecac03ce55ee16e30aa962af0ece02138a37c15b57953e6c8cba6a64e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c2c851b82d64cd7d569207f1949b5cbfdcf30542a0a890cd6e300174264d33c8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102643"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102643
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102643

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d5153ab48ba16baa7dfb2bff22ca715eab8823e858f9a7c3c2bbc3e7732b94ff

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102643, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102643.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102643" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102643" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102643 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102643 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102643 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102643 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102643", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16954, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5007228dfe04e6192cda5f3e0725d47fcf185b8c1c9b9ae75dde829f2f2ffb30" }, { "bytes": 6887, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "592205f44064ddd14b591a34d47d8da77eb7717892adfab5e428a9210654840d" }, { "bytes": 6562, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d5153ab48ba16baa7dfb2bff22ca715eab8823e858f9a7c3c2bbc3e7732b94ff" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102643/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102643", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7a07-b796-51272deab5d5" } id1l39hp1Cve9fUcJ625Afi8OC58GsRINJasECzVFyjBLNfn8DdpyRpmPltxu04Zixjip0r2onaP3WPQN2mRDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: id1l39hp1Cve9fUcJ625Afi8OC58GsRINJasECzVFyjBLNfn8DdpyRpmPltxu04Zixjip0r2onaP3WPQN2mRDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16400,"name":"index.html","sha256":"13ebd56c45f3434c8eebac9a38ff99d84449ef5a10667862dc22902a83c047f0"},{"bytes":6400,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"472aff733c5653eed1b952d82a7b35727311e29fcfb3894d306e988bb7e57395"},{"bytes":6078,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"902d499f5b83fc7ee7ab0f6eaa0a43f3319aca0e55dd23f78c6e181c7ec98261"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f630c652fede983ebdc81b339128987ded534c80d045b8e011df2787d1d94bd0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c01bfe4cdd97679abec603618a59ac66a620128c43438a188ee8f824d8b5c34e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1a99e58c545bb982f2ee47ca287609f38c27b3a19739444f1a8a335cb7e93c93"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102644"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102644
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102644

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
902d499f5b83fc7ee7ab0f6eaa0a43f3319aca0e55dd23f78c6e181c7ec98261

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102644, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102644.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102644" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102644" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102644 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102644 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102644 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102644 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102644", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16400, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "13ebd56c45f3434c8eebac9a38ff99d84449ef5a10667862dc22902a83c047f0" }, { "bytes": 6400, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "472aff733c5653eed1b952d82a7b35727311e29fcfb3894d306e988bb7e57395" }, { "bytes": 6078, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "902d499f5b83fc7ee7ab0f6eaa0a43f3319aca0e55dd23f78c6e181c7ec98261" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102644/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102644", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7f80-990a-00dfae87312b" } vS8wRhhobSPhmu2yYugfKoi2Bos5YOUh/PQa/2rHCVTa7zo9AaYzZ9EBDq2pR/ogOcszjsdtXX9R2GxRxwj5AQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: vS8wRhhobSPhmu2yYugfKoi2Bos5YOUh/PQa/2rHCVTa7zo9AaYzZ9EBDq2pR/ogOcszjsdtXX9R2GxRxwj5AQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17208,"name":"index.html","sha256":"897aff219cd32aeabe4fefe5eb6f2041a081910a328630a8d8b2462e33ec71d8"},{"bytes":7098,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7c6243ad42d4a7f8094aa26202d3416c12661aa93f36fba88d83e7a5060749ae"},{"bytes":6773,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"65423c83ec17f38b18b422c80a68f6392aee6813b3c57c4db5d157b9601186d4"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"57574d93369664df7af04718d59686ee73ee549d5eb8115bba5dc291028197bc"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6f6e4770a82d608274663d652fedae82f53fadcda61a86a1d97e01b3f3fe536e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c9a018000c56a82ec2311a0bf4be2c50e34a23203049978d271d6e9aeb448b51"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102645"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102645
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102645

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
65423c83ec17f38b18b422c80a68f6392aee6813b3c57c4db5d157b9601186d4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102645, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102645.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102645" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102645" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102645 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102645 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102645 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102645 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102645", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17208, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "897aff219cd32aeabe4fefe5eb6f2041a081910a328630a8d8b2462e33ec71d8" }, { "bytes": 7098, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7c6243ad42d4a7f8094aa26202d3416c12661aa93f36fba88d83e7a5060749ae" }, { "bytes": 6773, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "65423c83ec17f38b18b422c80a68f6392aee6813b3c57c4db5d157b9601186d4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102645/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102645", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-77bb-8a32-aadaf830bd68" } WvXtYswckKf5Zjrsje61X7O1OYELm784BGNedZ3JfyATDt16TyTCucQf1dgOuJXnWDOfjvI779cZ/wjxxe7MCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: WvXtYswckKf5Zjrsje61X7O1OYELm784BGNedZ3JfyATDt16TyTCucQf1dgOuJXnWDOfjvI779cZ/wjxxe7MCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16955,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4767d5c27c99ae9ca645a5a0f2c4425a61c1dcc8527ce55359f35afcbe1f65e9"},{"bytes":6888,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"064dbff3557a9ac1d6a3476b3d6fd79a184f26c55a196a584cf3546730beb1bc"},{"bytes":6563,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2cf42b2cbb160febd25e36ef329c28e66146be0e419e03d04d24d71d7ac9ec55"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fabb73c27e719a95a282119c32e49ff63cac70bebbe5d76f7b5c748082a11646"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"66dbad5297e4c4b0c85f7cebcd7469573a164d25fc4daf1ec042c2c4b2351110"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5885729b4a5d82d0b5c072b817cc120638fe589dfb683ee9cccbff00240159cc"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102646"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102646
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102646

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2cf42b2cbb160febd25e36ef329c28e66146be0e419e03d04d24d71d7ac9ec55

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102646, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102646.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102646" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102646" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102646 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102646 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102646 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102646 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102647

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e9f2dabcc63d6b3e235416163fa114298a455393c998acf508b3806c1714f9b9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102647, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102647.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102647" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102647" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102647 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102647 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102647 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102647 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102647", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16404, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "bcd37086a400f7b071c94c70c583e86f4ab70c1479ca78099751b14041d405e6" }, { "bytes": 6404, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4872ac60b262b5bb44c68f46f7c0a782d50897869b95ff1c50170095cf77ee40" }, { "bytes": 6082, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e9f2dabcc63d6b3e235416163fa114298a455393c998acf508b3806c1714f9b9" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102647/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102647", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7985-8699-84bf40612e01" } J0MP4oHYHPXPKq26bBFzMnumUMoQD+//s5KzibZiJ3/e81v9DN03V1SjujJ+ZsIFSQwZMhusrKMPPKRFYFmeAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: J0MP4oHYHPXPKq26bBFzMnumUMoQD+//s5KzibZiJ3/e81v9DN03V1SjujJ+ZsIFSQwZMhusrKMPPKRFYFmeAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17212,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b894165309ed75fe7d940f20821fa43160468617be0231d724e88c005f484330"},{"bytes":7102,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"04dd538089387c7a50fc44478d9519679247b3deae70ce49daaeb980e47bb775"},{"bytes":6777,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bb044c287fd3453dd0d3696f4cfb8f7e388a471020dd9a9ed3a40b50633cdfdc"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cd9d770ae0ff5329b06c0d449e2b9057fc642d39456668ecafca1b92b44cc492"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"109bce8b6b7ba1aa12434fa458e0ef094daf2c6151e41ad04c244b2c59a7a6c8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"735a5c3adfee37efd2f6c0a399dd26ddcc53b50cb43334fbdda866b41c273276"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102648"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102648
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102648

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bb044c287fd3453dd0d3696f4cfb8f7e388a471020dd9a9ed3a40b50633cdfdc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102648, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102648.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102648" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102648" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102648 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102648 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102648 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102648 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102648", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17212, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b894165309ed75fe7d940f20821fa43160468617be0231d724e88c005f484330" }, { "bytes": 7102, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "04dd538089387c7a50fc44478d9519679247b3deae70ce49daaeb980e47bb775" }, { "bytes": 6777, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bb044c287fd3453dd0d3696f4cfb8f7e388a471020dd9a9ed3a40b50633cdfdc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102648/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102648", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7eae-930c-d84f5d0b7be1" } z+Hh9pFYxZCS52pLgNwlQF9YEs7PIk3mjTYp8F9dXCqOTAA/Ea8x7/OYK+dhDDEwHX+YGl0GVaR6ErqoBKRjCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: z+Hh9pFYxZCS52pLgNwlQF9YEs7PIk3mjTYp8F9dXCqOTAA/Ea8x7/OYK+dhDDEwHX+YGl0GVaR6ErqoBKRjCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16959,"name":"index.html","sha256":"187132d1a430020de5daf57fe216f18066bf6801df3e490b1af1a6ca1ee1d6a1"},{"bytes":6892,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"40937c6806b061a0fa94c8817d63e8371489dc455758ab50ef872c0946a24af4"},{"bytes":6567,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c7b8df07449517f8f96d7dbd548f8b80614f15d029c1470b7d22153a94bae8f1"},{"bytes":2768,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"dd96a452d0dce405d5ab8ac0b56327b60951a24d856063ede4de874f4dd45c1f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b0762c5d5c44de0b3c2d5d99ccad75aabb8e452ecb8021f8f0a075a6e58527fc"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a1ead92894056936dff7ef8d3a549b500d5ca221f1fd4aa17d73733c69ab543f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102649"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102649
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102649

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c7b8df07449517f8f96d7dbd548f8b80614f15d029c1470b7d22153a94bae8f1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102649, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102649.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102649" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102649" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102649 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102649 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102649 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102649 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102649", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16959, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "187132d1a430020de5daf57fe216f18066bf6801df3e490b1af1a6ca1ee1d6a1" }, { "bytes": 6892, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "40937c6806b061a0fa94c8817d63e8371489dc455758ab50ef872c0946a24af4" }, { "bytes": 6567, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c7b8df07449517f8f96d7dbd548f8b80614f15d029c1470b7d22153a94bae8f1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102649/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102649", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-705e-8b36-e3b9f945fbe4" } w/GRnGeWn+pUcM67fdDS5P6k90TAcRl2tcDyW8IiDn9eBsCK44viL4j9/VoKFFxMnotkOjCRi18gYq6ExQ5mCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: w/GRnGeWn+pUcM67fdDS5P6k90TAcRl2tcDyW8IiDn9eBsCK44viL4j9/VoKFFxMnotkOjCRi18gYq6ExQ5mCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16577,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c0ec0755233a9cc4d6d50436a30c17e0b3a770d7f901c6842a65590747afcf0d"},{"bytes":6549,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"991e6ec2a91cf7b5e0783a1d04d0f59ceb1d3bd60a3d31bd10acfd08ce5300e1"},{"bytes":6239,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"67b7e8be0adbd4b358b7a6d690f41925c7e305ad78d2332ad7741921060f2567"},{"bytes":2734,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5553c1367109402451dded8de6d5df5ee8f3a59e090eda2addc1d899eec3ac63"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6996ff1fb159e5e87aa989b65f52c52bfba99f563aa2ca1d2c8988132edcc8be"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6ff3c6d2e0e7ad5cdd1a2cd0600196a96a786215e65c9ffcf74cb0471e2708bc"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102650"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102650
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102650

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
67b7e8be0adbd4b358b7a6d690f41925c7e305ad78d2332ad7741921060f2567

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102650, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102650.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102650" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102650" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102650 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102650 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102650 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102650 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102651

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
224451ead02120cce6afd3a403b99a90e2dcd46aee9059925414dff3646fa1df

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102651, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102651.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102651" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102651" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102651 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102651 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102651 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102651 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102652

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
41049bc36e3ebea16c130b4a64ac6d2845eebeaa8f42b17b3cbbe95d71e46e71

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102652, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102652.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102652" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102652" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102652 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102652 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102652 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102652 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102652", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 965 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17132, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2d38acb5e331ebbf2a94fd9b5e008d7c436384ea8bf61fb853a47ff33c26f036" }, { "bytes": 7037, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c398810ce8955e7bb0a87ec64c87eed1e5ed7d204bf0b5365ce0f31bfd5c6e03" }, { "bytes": 6724, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "41049bc36e3ebea16c130b4a64ac6d2845eebeaa8f42b17b3cbbe95d71e46e71" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102652/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102652", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-782b-8f81-21cd20f6a868" } Ort+cPxbZr0JsT0uUQjWv3cHwxfKLTTtztCGv+XxucAd/JfESIARnAOd1D3U2EDnNAzK3Dn/kjPdW3gfRRFYAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Ort+cPxbZr0JsT0uUQjWv3cHwxfKLTTtztCGv+XxucAd/JfESIARnAOd1D3U2EDnNAzK3Dn/kjPdW3gfRRFYAA== {"files":[{"bytes":16523,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6f06af90de806b9a069db5fb67f64514201bf4f0ea5b92b92ac05bf535e493e1"},{"bytes":6495,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a207f601fc1a3821d9aff054bcb823773410b1396a3f8ab2b0ae2776d1261fdf"},{"bytes":6185,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e035f3638a7a3a5fabfd6b579fa849669e00b7fa5221e26c9db8a54f76df819b"},{"bytes":2734,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9cb81d614c6c56a601294b1c6160e11268325eace85e222275ab8b5cecf91661"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"96105b83e4d0e5693b36690ba2a10fa366ff7c2ebedeb4b5c07bebc134b42aef"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"74c122716b8f8a7fcb9e2266e325f6e521e827af43ff6f4fc095737e5b639b9c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102653"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102653
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102653

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e035f3638a7a3a5fabfd6b579fa849669e00b7fa5221e26c9db8a54f76df819b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102653, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102653.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102653" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102653" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102653 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102653 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102653 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102653 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102653", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 879 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16523, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6f06af90de806b9a069db5fb67f64514201bf4f0ea5b92b92ac05bf535e493e1" }, { "bytes": 6495, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a207f601fc1a3821d9aff054bcb823773410b1396a3f8ab2b0ae2776d1261fdf" }, { "bytes": 6185, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e035f3638a7a3a5fabfd6b579fa849669e00b7fa5221e26c9db8a54f76df819b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102653/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102653", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7c50-a8a4-c674121b9e67" } 6E1mUNwsBLjZeR1q70MVfR+n2VA1jlsWFLOOHINmpY0z6U2oGtPsjz/P33bcVPUhTOVSDCpWqZy03cKo8tZRCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 6E1mUNwsBLjZeR1q70MVfR+n2VA1jlsWFLOOHINmpY0z6U2oGtPsjz/P33bcVPUhTOVSDCpWqZy03cKo8tZRCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17331,"name":"index.html","sha256":"efeb035dcc283b8320704f098211c62d62e504c6a7b564e4e8b46f8a78a557fb"},{"bytes":7193,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3d06ee3198017c6c5aefedf18ef801d287e35943b3f8aeff4508ff22092f3bfa"},{"bytes":6880,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"55adc5e8d11a2136f3aa663f21c1d2a811b912b7a6fe640623664e0b6af58600"},{"bytes":2743,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b9f44d6599131d76313dd745f9d9cf095676ea5a82384dff74d6850c41f027c8"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d9e58fc55550a1b5bd1b2e825cd51e170b8033da46a7e61d6aaca56bcb7b5089"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"661f18b60ae21f4782e5dc6a8ef0d1d3f3012c7a4de2352ea2f5a57f4ed3ef93"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102654"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102654
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102654

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
55adc5e8d11a2136f3aa663f21c1d2a811b912b7a6fe640623664e0b6af58600

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102654, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102654.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102654" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102654" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102654 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102654 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102654 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102654 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102654", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 985 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17331, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "efeb035dcc283b8320704f098211c62d62e504c6a7b564e4e8b46f8a78a557fb" }, { "bytes": 7193, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3d06ee3198017c6c5aefedf18ef801d287e35943b3f8aeff4508ff22092f3bfa" }, { "bytes": 6880, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "55adc5e8d11a2136f3aa663f21c1d2a811b912b7a6fe640623664e0b6af58600" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102654/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102654", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7fd6-988b-20bc27bb3164" } vIhRYttSYKuok1anIqEpLCZBcGUsSYr4TDUHkKRJLuHD54PtdKu1JJZzE4pu999f1F9R2eO1kQywJ2W57C/4DA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: vIhRYttSYKuok1anIqEpLCZBcGUsSYr4TDUHkKRJLuHD54PtdKu1JJZzE4pu999f1F9R2eO1kQywJ2W57C/4DA== {"files":[{"bytes":17078,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2e9f57f8983e053eef070bfb4044b277bb92f8024da75bbd76fae1d8defa5847"},{"bytes":6983,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"748514e5a25a780b95fc1ca3491be8f8dadde0f24607072470f52f6e7546a70d"},{"bytes":6670,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8f19babdb599e0f3674ddc486a726186aa5e8476d9af3a2d3f554311f131d3fe"},{"bytes":2743,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"6717d24b11e79c4804baa7b7a4e7003ed85c33f32d63bb16ce48a787745ca3c9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"54edf38c14fbff9dbaf9dc0aeb3d67b26411df65fd17373f63ec1bff60987e4c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e07d086d6e623a19496e530e2d021a761cce6ba61b1f0a79bda9791cff6bc180"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102655"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102655
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102655

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8f19babdb599e0f3674ddc486a726186aa5e8476d9af3a2d3f554311f131d3fe

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102655, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102655.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102655" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102655" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102655 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102655 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102655 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102655 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102655", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 950 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17078, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2e9f57f8983e053eef070bfb4044b277bb92f8024da75bbd76fae1d8defa5847" }, { "bytes": 6983, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "748514e5a25a780b95fc1ca3491be8f8dadde0f24607072470f52f6e7546a70d" }, { "bytes": 6670, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8f19babdb599e0f3674ddc486a726186aa5e8476d9af3a2d3f554311f131d3fe" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102655/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102655", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7a9d-86b1-77aa6dc57765" } /xw6tNoh+5pPycpx0kHiyq1E54cMYet//MhvIuWau8WQYCDZjh3DYv9RC6gGlXMEsDwtEu+GaA7XIt1iLHQHCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: /xw6tNoh+5pPycpx0kHiyq1E54cMYet//MhvIuWau8WQYCDZjh3DYv9RC6gGlXMEsDwtEu+GaA7XIt1iLHQHCw== {"files":[{"bytes":16293,"name":"index.html","sha256":"fdffe134282e254bf6e25dacc8d7b0491ee66a123ea50eb9d241358422b2a2d1"},{"bytes":6309,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ef53265e4a56957ef93439d9596b18f61e8a60144e5e7ab9b3c10337fc8fbc40"},{"bytes":5995,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"31707d977964ee149ad7ef0a36cdb881402fe5bbd56ed05065c4d144964b3301"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0cbbe8af332d013a4ad2bb03ca9af1efb9f048ec2f0f9693b6066de3751ca939"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"27e2ab88a96d68016616d8ed749715982744f43e61ba068a3b86cc5b733e2ddb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9fe0fa36437e9042923eaec6ca064a41dba365bbabcc4f76d9f005e69f21d202"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102656"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102656
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102656

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
31707d977964ee149ad7ef0a36cdb881402fe5bbd56ed05065c4d144964b3301

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102656, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102656.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102656" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102656" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102656 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102656 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102656 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102656 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102657

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ead7942ef7881de4be13ae7d65d5abc04cf36ebfc55bc8b1c44778cc13a96381

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102657, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102657.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102657" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102657" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102657 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102657 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102657 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102657 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102657", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17101, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3d69149ffa8d5e89039edb40d33fc9e23c6210b78a278fde8b7caba4a587119a" }, { "bytes": 7007, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a13d3b73eebf8aaccaf370bd98fef67fb75e1975f89d31054921c6da05dd730d" }, { "bytes": 6690, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ead7942ef7881de4be13ae7d65d5abc04cf36ebfc55bc8b1c44778cc13a96381" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102657/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102657", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7c91-b57c-ac16a86b7a4b" } J300JbR1GDuLsZbebB42EnGD5V63JjtAJAXyrULAgsTRbpGauyL+YbtaBlv6Fp+diBgjcCUfr4fDhBzcgaR4DA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: J300JbR1GDuLsZbebB42EnGD5V63JjtAJAXyrULAgsTRbpGauyL+YbtaBlv6Fp+diBgjcCUfr4fDhBzcgaR4DA== {"files":[{"bytes":16848,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7df452cb60c083b81991267a878fb4e17836933498ed5eb87abe3cd9ba647e64"},{"bytes":6797,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ed52f8b24ed41ae0e27b5519a3dd435aee0943c0cc2d0b3fcd1d5677e7005119"},{"bytes":6480,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"878d2c1b80fe38a02bc67fb050ac77bb8c49841244c7768d684a671ea698f0c1"},{"bytes":2760,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"94e6377fda912492e29ea655f1d059da1387b10bad737fd3bec2d52b05acb26c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6e6251bd077f9565210784414cfdc341f1b7252e1014c30803386f28ce2478de"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a376f5ae17f4b023e9366a77ff98bd6d941999c07c6f5b583352d73574059245"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102658"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102658
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102658

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
878d2c1b80fe38a02bc67fb050ac77bb8c49841244c7768d684a671ea698f0c1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102658, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102658.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102658" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102658" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102658 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102658 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102658 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102658 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102658", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 913 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16848, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7df452cb60c083b81991267a878fb4e17836933498ed5eb87abe3cd9ba647e64" }, { "bytes": 6797, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ed52f8b24ed41ae0e27b5519a3dd435aee0943c0cc2d0b3fcd1d5677e7005119" }, { "bytes": 6480, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "878d2c1b80fe38a02bc67fb050ac77bb8c49841244c7768d684a671ea698f0c1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102658/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102658", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-77e1-857f-e7d7d8d1017e" } nSf53E5lPGYjW4EW9ztW9kYRAh+N+OGaIlgYIY2uwhfDAq4pLn6w2fu1iSsL8/6WI20zUTwVuAL4FfsC2fmwBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: nSf53E5lPGYjW4EW9ztW9kYRAh+N+OGaIlgYIY2uwhfDAq4pLn6w2fu1iSsL8/6WI20zUTwVuAL4FfsC2fmwBg== {"files":[{"bytes":16293,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9db8b17614958aa48617ab707db9e99cdfb5ad6e8a7c872361b54f8e9ad89fe1"},{"bytes":6309,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"51fce88a012dbeed9b19d1c68bfc80943cfb75fb340ee8246cee3be33812f4aa"},{"bytes":5995,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ec9d450cff6c864db08931f69957de6770891a1ea9103657985c1b99f0c69da7"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ac3d3dfd5fa71e7ebdb1188c4dcffc5f1275d8bebe8d9f4512f6677464ea9223"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"60541c14018dee28d76b72786b038cce9d596e1be089f2929c98963b2b06c3ca"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"43f71ac5b3b94bf5f8049bdff315c7ad34c004caa5ebebcda26aae864ce1a0ea"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102659"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102659
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102659

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ec9d450cff6c864db08931f69957de6770891a1ea9103657985c1b99f0c69da7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102659, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102659.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102659" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102659" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102659 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102659 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102659 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102659 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102659", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16293, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9db8b17614958aa48617ab707db9e99cdfb5ad6e8a7c872361b54f8e9ad89fe1" }, { "bytes": 6309, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "51fce88a012dbeed9b19d1c68bfc80943cfb75fb340ee8246cee3be33812f4aa" }, { "bytes": 5995, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ec9d450cff6c864db08931f69957de6770891a1ea9103657985c1b99f0c69da7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102659/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102659", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-727a-a446-319d2fb51d12" } FZsmni6s+kv1J/MxXbSA1focIAOxJZF1zdm7Qnh6PuLfoz7hH37baKfyPzDB3KZ4pPyzsTrY/7aAQcP98Jx+DQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: FZsmni6s+kv1J/MxXbSA1focIAOxJZF1zdm7Qnh6PuLfoz7hH37baKfyPzDB3KZ4pPyzsTrY/7aAQcP98Jx+DQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17101,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4c72c5fe40212ce302031af4eaa793333e790ebf5d282335face614a7b7aea4b"},{"bytes":7007,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f14e52438960e4ef826345e88e7105b09c3c12941fefba8be6e41dda167c18d4"},{"bytes":6690,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"40d1af304839b3a0492dc22591807a2ade90f1010922d6f98b9c680b96d00a15"},{"bytes":2760,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cb45cc6d46bd383a9e1546e4ddcb56f08482ccc2895ad9a7bbe2cd5d1b15ba88"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8e7e144db261e925ecb0f1eaea1f7b7a8908204f69427b14b0b7697276115aba"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5192c5c7344e69d7c71777e54d7cdb827246b5a6fa38d3641354ef2231444cc0"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102660"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102660
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102660

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
40d1af304839b3a0492dc22591807a2ade90f1010922d6f98b9c680b96d00a15

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102660, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102660.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102660" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102660" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102660 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102660 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102660 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102660 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102661

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
376a7848aaac8e05c677f81cf6598f67161106aeb5c7155ae380dc4f34c5d01e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102661, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102661.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102661" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102661" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102661 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102661 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102661 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102661 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102661", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 913 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16848, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "750cfa8975b9645ba3f8c455958e555561738499c65dae060c23900b3489991e" }, { "bytes": 6797, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c4255c32f3fdaeecb6bae19dbe6dc9433829735e0331dd3c4018aa63b7be29d2" }, { "bytes": 6480, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "376a7848aaac8e05c677f81cf6598f67161106aeb5c7155ae380dc4f34c5d01e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102661/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102661", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ae4-be81-0287e3f44a49" } kx8X3zZRMjiA4CPYQGEXtTV8LU2mxC5Sh+xaMJ45yika4U3wX3gbm45JnOTGrpfw0yQWPrPVd5Ks0AKJeLTSAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: kx8X3zZRMjiA4CPYQGEXtTV8LU2mxC5Sh+xaMJ45yika4U3wX3gbm45JnOTGrpfw0yQWPrPVd5Ks0AKJeLTSAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16388,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b7697da6ef906800ed3b56f73e0250168327df660f31c88f04f91e9b37fbced4"},{"bytes":6394,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"35b1889db3ced7879462fa7511757813b25c8e488202083e925ae66f2f27a1a4"},{"bytes":6075,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1eba22c5efd84b1e0a8023d11d11d9966c40e4e92634416b324d5f25b0648347"},{"bytes":2756,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"afbd9a68ec55992cb3aa4539afbd0ef0b5bc2ffb8b31bfe15b5137df59031716"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e459ca4cb5ab484f97c2c93c1089cf991a70e99ef8efc898f0839362b92c5700"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"fda1605b286724f8187b5c34bd2efb80c2ded4f0b7ec320b8c5aa2980264b753"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102662"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102662
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102662

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
1eba22c5efd84b1e0a8023d11d11d9966c40e4e92634416b324d5f25b0648347

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102662, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102662.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102662" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102662" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102662 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102662 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102662 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102662 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102662", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16388, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b7697da6ef906800ed3b56f73e0250168327df660f31c88f04f91e9b37fbced4" }, { "bytes": 6394, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "35b1889db3ced7879462fa7511757813b25c8e488202083e925ae66f2f27a1a4" }, { "bytes": 6075, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1eba22c5efd84b1e0a8023d11d11d9966c40e4e92634416b324d5f25b0648347" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102662/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102662", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7623-a803-337bfc215c7d" } IhpucVKn0oOLYM7NKip7N9D5JwengI/Zb8rGFlRBnO9SpXGC1Ez6xu0ibsl4epNKbi/fWjcldHJ+XaTJuK6oBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: IhpucVKn0oOLYM7NKip7N9D5JwengI/Zb8rGFlRBnO9SpXGC1Ez6xu0ibsl4epNKbi/fWjcldHJ+XaTJuK6oBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17196,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9ce4c6b81efc8e1ab69e2894ac22d0e28391788de7d62ad58cec4b0db34bc068"},{"bytes":7092,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"152f624ec32273dbb935089ddf1f60e5e65dda54bac843c1206a275bd9002b54"},{"bytes":6770,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9889de90243ade7f96ad81f6f73246581f360b754d5bfded63a2a371e62b9f2d"},{"bytes":2765,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1dcd6723dbe7975865b8c46e0393dd79e3e58f67f0906cf220f97a747ef388a2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1d79134b665c1bb3590dfb017dc8005424935236345d8d68b6e24cef8054e75a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"622d78116602940727c0aad11e14aa2bcb99ed0cabc9f8c13f76058f79498536"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102663"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102663
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102663

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9889de90243ade7f96ad81f6f73246581f360b754d5bfded63a2a371e62b9f2d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102663, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102663.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102663" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102663" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102663 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102663 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102663 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102663 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102663", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17196, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9ce4c6b81efc8e1ab69e2894ac22d0e28391788de7d62ad58cec4b0db34bc068" }, { "bytes": 7092, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "152f624ec32273dbb935089ddf1f60e5e65dda54bac843c1206a275bd9002b54" }, { "bytes": 6770, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9889de90243ade7f96ad81f6f73246581f360b754d5bfded63a2a371e62b9f2d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102663/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102663", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-73a1-815e-b4325a242187" } zX1q2Pomco3NbLpQmyDj7OCQoHflT8GvBWbgvKUe/iEIJqq54HyvHoToOxjoaGWmVzk8/HQegZ3RAv3TieUMBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: zX1q2Pomco3NbLpQmyDj7OCQoHflT8GvBWbgvKUe/iEIJqq54HyvHoToOxjoaGWmVzk8/HQegZ3RAv3TieUMBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16943,"name":"index.html","sha256":"871b3cca0f46ff4e5a2c0cc82dd56029ce490eee327afa9ec148590e2d83bff7"},{"bytes":6882,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"07df7772ea43d33f9c8711882eab74336355966deb80001127ebb186ec608f21"},{"bytes":6560,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0c39e5ee11328fe5919adcdd81239afe909a82300e3a769836f70a2282465c66"},{"bytes":2765,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3a88d19e5857fb2b92042d21458d832fa96acb456771edf60c1e2db780e4f1b0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0ea7cdfd7f86ecb69fae092ab242aa20f4a15f4e28829e6d1470df04742270e0"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"03b71a766d2146b642db9d5eb1856bd4e355b7d95715d236f38a8a403a0c5170"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102664"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102664
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102664

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
0c39e5ee11328fe5919adcdd81239afe909a82300e3a769836f70a2282465c66

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102664, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102664.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102664" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102664" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102664 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102664 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102664 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102664 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102664", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16943, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "871b3cca0f46ff4e5a2c0cc82dd56029ce490eee327afa9ec148590e2d83bff7" }, { "bytes": 6882, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "07df7772ea43d33f9c8711882eab74336355966deb80001127ebb186ec608f21" }, { "bytes": 6560, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "0c39e5ee11328fe5919adcdd81239afe909a82300e3a769836f70a2282465c66" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102664/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102664", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7279-87a2-45556847017f" } XlpNGYZD2bINasPxkC6tjWwTVSleUReWrW7BHDqHMaMJEaDhKfLGqTZsV+D3+zAnCqRnV3ECDJ0pkKsNkkX0CQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: XlpNGYZD2bINasPxkC6tjWwTVSleUReWrW7BHDqHMaMJEaDhKfLGqTZsV+D3+zAnCqRnV3ECDJ0pkKsNkkX0CQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16389,"name":"index.html","sha256":"fc92c328af9b1b81bce70ef3b2f2a89c5d8f59afee2e910f36b015cc6be56eb8"},{"bytes":6395,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5e0070891e2676cad32b97f7328861316ad67b19e28387cdc1d10d6684edf8b7"},{"bytes":6076,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"dc55d83e1da3dbee18a585d0b2e3a4facf716c88829e38621aea3eccc188a526"},{"bytes":2756,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1a952a7a8f2dc18fe26e007c56502a82bb8b5967464edf9de0004b3e5574066a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"41c90b7b4c254a95bdc0039b2503ec44c454204a6ad49a35072a00bfa204a6e3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"013c53aa58721b3ef3a742570efbb1c48ed1481f8cb7d56a98471a3d932de86d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102665"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102665
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102665

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
dc55d83e1da3dbee18a585d0b2e3a4facf716c88829e38621aea3eccc188a526

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102665, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102665.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102665" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102665" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102665 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102665 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102665 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102665 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102666

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bd71bad70577f5759b0e527a51ddb46e19dccc45316082a0c2b6abecd7a60fe4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102666, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102666.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102666" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102666" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102666 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102666 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102666 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102666 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102666", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17197, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "dcc9a885c2bf728d6190793de1126ebe00a4a0390bd267fcb0d702e1313db168" }, { "bytes": 7093, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e9de5bc4ec6a6d71efc446b710b964f34dea2de473121b5acf324801fe9e69b9" }, { "bytes": 6771, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bd71bad70577f5759b0e527a51ddb46e19dccc45316082a0c2b6abecd7a60fe4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102666/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102666", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7829-9f5e-2e6cd83f5dce" } +WEMJJ2OzEBVJ43KX3l6ButGAVRzjsJOLE2Cood40PZKIPJ7iIkgDYSAQBkrg35CH4O79w30QE1NrXht98RwBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +WEMJJ2OzEBVJ43KX3l6ButGAVRzjsJOLE2Cood40PZKIPJ7iIkgDYSAQBkrg35CH4O79w30QE1NrXht98RwBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16944,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b8231355a5b596193e3be4df3bf58f3223720c6d76b7125b8dacf938e1c70ac5"},{"bytes":6883,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0facd0f79b99465e946d79ae9fbbb6cb92ba22888402ab67f5ae02e314faae6b"},{"bytes":6561,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c8efc32c64b48b516429cd440606f954c2377976bceb22d26cfbd97109ee137e"},{"bytes":2765,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3c26e3aacbae92790dc153133755d1c83fc6adf15c8ead4aeb97dbfe98a30ab0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"622b874b7b8ce73d60475be9a3aeebbf7133586e9793be05f5be42b3076b6b87"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5275ed648577b8caf0d098da0d4e27e321cbcfb350b1582996cb1e64147eab44"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102667"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102667
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102667

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
c8efc32c64b48b516429cd440606f954c2377976bceb22d26cfbd97109ee137e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102667, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102667.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102667" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102667" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102667 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102667 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102667 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102667 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102667", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16944, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b8231355a5b596193e3be4df3bf58f3223720c6d76b7125b8dacf938e1c70ac5" }, { "bytes": 6883, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0facd0f79b99465e946d79ae9fbbb6cb92ba22888402ab67f5ae02e314faae6b" }, { "bytes": 6561, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c8efc32c64b48b516429cd440606f954c2377976bceb22d26cfbd97109ee137e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102667/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102667", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ec1-9b12-c9162fae5871" } LUOu8zA9Y+K22MXcNuTmUTexA2l+u+I+fZ9bsiq93ST5THBKhaniiX27HJ0QRLRxUO+t5UslC/e4Av60cbTXDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: LUOu8zA9Y+K22MXcNuTmUTexA2l+u+I+fZ9bsiq93ST5THBKhaniiX27HJ0QRLRxUO+t5UslC/e4Av60cbTXDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16393,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cb81f38dec5e0401ad2a973965c3e43fe3cd50fd4698bd5a27e3766b03ea8ee9"},{"bytes":6399,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6a4898d5212f60df9a9081d739be513c26c5bf4bf9cf9efc0538267bcf2d7699"},{"bytes":6080,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4e7006def954fcae0f08cb6bd537d8f4b835b7f71ad7670d974a1746157829b4"},{"bytes":2756,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"6d9feba78414cac02aa6c05dea54d1a5f025a472c685d99587895eaff90ca053"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d4ee0c8c13dfc0acc784383ed599935853ea329405692dbaf9c6a471b57e7eed"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b8b69dc8fd04cf75c6ff658c3895112e6047ca894693c9f3fe5d96a47dcb3df8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102668"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102668
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102668

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
4e7006def954fcae0f08cb6bd537d8f4b835b7f71ad7670d974a1746157829b4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102668, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102668.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102668" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102668" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102668 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102668 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102668 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102668 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102668", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16393, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cb81f38dec5e0401ad2a973965c3e43fe3cd50fd4698bd5a27e3766b03ea8ee9" }, { "bytes": 6399, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6a4898d5212f60df9a9081d739be513c26c5bf4bf9cf9efc0538267bcf2d7699" }, { "bytes": 6080, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4e7006def954fcae0f08cb6bd537d8f4b835b7f71ad7670d974a1746157829b4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102668/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102668", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7d92-8189-cf8996294577" } 3/firJMWtvc1Eo3YmZiT0HNxO6GoUJfJtCRArxp2bIgjPQIqpUYaqRC/hQ+Jcw17kZ3xMUKRyw4Mw2nceeJ8Cw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 3/firJMWtvc1Eo3YmZiT0HNxO6GoUJfJtCRArxp2bIgjPQIqpUYaqRC/hQ+Jcw17kZ3xMUKRyw4Mw2nceeJ8Cw== {"files":[{"bytes":17201,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b0136b45d66273621948fbbde438fb172f3ef5e4fb6e2379f420c96ea9dbe6ee"},{"bytes":7097,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"dc5b9e7800e4b300816061e55deeb9817a92a9aff00e974de295570af0a68728"},{"bytes":6775,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6747962b903d633cd47ffcfce55b8f0ef5bef8685be3134a2227bc9236910476"},{"bytes":2765,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f800d3b0708bd975ab886b25b240198939072568e82598df1b98bfe97f580085"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b36ee4210f08c16ebe131ffe2c03ec700c5b0115efe580ee33c174a3a0098a8a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"14e3abb091e87a25827123e2fe401d61740aad4dc56f3b5f5e2ad7923ea1f2e7"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102669"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102669
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102669

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6747962b903d633cd47ffcfce55b8f0ef5bef8685be3134a2227bc9236910476

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102669, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102669.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102669" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102669" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102669 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102669 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102669 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102669 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102670

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
fd11d4a9071f135081f07c67c49b69528d53a72fa4bb36175661c6e56d249f32

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102670, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102670.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102670" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102670" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102670 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102670 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102670 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102670 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102671

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
8895671d940888a82d24c9381eb02121dd8b4559c1b8abf4965010502989c1c9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102671, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102671.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102671" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102671" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102671 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102671 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102671 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102671 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102671", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 894 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16566, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cd40164c82dfd6b7d1cdb0d41f97880aa03fedb0fc6bd4115171fc877b20cecf" }, { "bytes": 6544, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "8860de9c69612bc6c4b8ba30c05e2cea4d1e17ce159e4c9bdb7c3dd52ac76d4a" }, { "bytes": 6237, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8895671d940888a82d24c9381eb02121dd8b4559c1b8abf4965010502989c1c9" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102671/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102671", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7282-ba2b-0dab487a84dc" } 00F5E7sbhRO38eUhXYeAswV3luOwW900juIzFZ2CftNoLSBL1vOpbqjFjTryknSCRntprwRWozh4ptNtiA6lBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 00F5E7sbhRO38eUhXYeAswV3luOwW900juIzFZ2CftNoLSBL1vOpbqjFjTryknSCRntprwRWozh4ptNtiA6lBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17374,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6149749676352bd2b89e34338c9a09276dd3b534f4b010cc96ece09cbe456379"},{"bytes":7242,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"18b0ca3994f497f20b87bd96396a73f45001b769652c40071c2f63b4500858d6"},{"bytes":6932,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1e4beef54ae35455220507a92313c70c3c7056db8e5fbe990e5f85f80ea9c228"},{"bytes":2741,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"94009b05a60f23915fa6bcfe70e8d4460ed8337d5f532df0c9db2a46a17a4eb5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d58287123630501dd705e0a486d2f8f8aa8b4cccb500f9d30b7ed9e6ddcff912"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bfc339520b8f41904ae4ef3be5e3206834e5e8dd3ee3b89620a92fc2bd613d5e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102672"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102672
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102672

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
1e4beef54ae35455220507a92313c70c3c7056db8e5fbe990e5f85f80ea9c228

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102672, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102672.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102672" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102672" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102672 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102672 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102672 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102672 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102672", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1000 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17374, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6149749676352bd2b89e34338c9a09276dd3b534f4b010cc96ece09cbe456379" }, { "bytes": 7242, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "18b0ca3994f497f20b87bd96396a73f45001b769652c40071c2f63b4500858d6" }, { "bytes": 6932, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1e4beef54ae35455220507a92313c70c3c7056db8e5fbe990e5f85f80ea9c228" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102672/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102672", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7871-9515-768ecd2815f9" } dbSC9KLHNxFEg+NhnJ2aJW9W14ll3xE+bKSxJnM2CPv7/ZNoRjSFpcqh0i1Cpba/C/GXMkJF2mqs97LPluZSDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: dbSC9KLHNxFEg+NhnJ2aJW9W14ll3xE+bKSxJnM2CPv7/ZNoRjSFpcqh0i1Cpba/C/GXMkJF2mqs97LPluZSDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17121,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2710f764061d2653b4a1c9da57435813b87105a6366dd18afcd69dfb3dd3e985"},{"bytes":7032,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1e28716631dd57900df9683582db97acd7df5ef520a3fb8b34846051ce507012"},{"bytes":6722,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"02327f65feb8ed922bf8b1a2ea6eeefc6ef19062e86802c62442824b17e52194"},{"bytes":2740,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"16a0629891837d395d5ffedf1ed19a462b74796134b46bcc8ec6144e59b1c194"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"154d9629b7b9efbea63afd790e78601b6892bcc9b3c4a9b05f2da81b90ab0bd2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e069525445bf6b3e07df8d32a9be7e0c485f8b8f22b6d6c88901ceff0611ab60"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102673"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102673
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102673

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
02327f65feb8ed922bf8b1a2ea6eeefc6ef19062e86802c62442824b17e52194

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102673, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102673.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102673" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102673" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102673 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102673 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102673 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102673 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102673", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 965 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17121, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2710f764061d2653b4a1c9da57435813b87105a6366dd18afcd69dfb3dd3e985" }, { "bytes": 7032, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1e28716631dd57900df9683582db97acd7df5ef520a3fb8b34846051ce507012" }, { "bytes": 6722, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "02327f65feb8ed922bf8b1a2ea6eeefc6ef19062e86802c62442824b17e52194" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102673/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102673", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7ef9-8db5-cf5a1fb0b887" } zGTkwAmS294/IqWUNeik7reovX+fna04QBL6IGZUb7KM0f9Hh1AlmrW2wWxGM3hRptXRV9c42RoDgyKMXeFUDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: zGTkwAmS294/IqWUNeik7reovX+fna04QBL6IGZUb7KM0f9Hh1AlmrW2wWxGM3hRptXRV9c42RoDgyKMXeFUDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16512,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5806759f37a646d106264e74f134110516aba1f3be95d9f46754ae1ecf9e13bb"},{"bytes":6490,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5b51c7701d5444bd8ef8cf352e25aac1153b23846eaabe1f93b039e0d8dadb7f"},{"bytes":6183,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c99abf391d95108115f77ff4e66c8815b5216d4c9a35fd6837ad2f3da350cb30"},{"bytes":2731,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"da63e6a2873467ad30e68cef9bc1e058ce2a9e3c5580f764758e3b221874115b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"564dd439594272bf826d7060dcd9889277356ccb4c5be8e2680d74ae0ecd62d9"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cb90e20ac7972890ef5173921b2c73cbd225b60d8b9efdff689127b30163581d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102674"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102674
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102674

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
c99abf391d95108115f77ff4e66c8815b5216d4c9a35fd6837ad2f3da350cb30

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102674, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102674.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102674" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102674" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102674 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102674 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102674 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102674 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102675

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
0d404ee1ea822eb102859075bed1dc6bf655ef67b2e6bcc6f34b6881d4432438

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102675, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102675.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102675" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102675" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102675 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102675 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102675 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102675 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102676

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b4943b572823fe66bd8e9da258772fc66695385a4df29f8dbbf45265771e0055

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102676, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102676.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102676" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102676" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102676 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102676 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102676 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102676 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102676", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 950 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17067, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f778286b07987c906f8ffa6ff339b725dd11593faa806ba2ba2f931a43a5d3ee" }, { "bytes": 6978, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "142221febca8aafc2f35747f597799512a2e3a94f95171bfe22ad9daf9157e89" }, { "bytes": 6668, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b4943b572823fe66bd8e9da258772fc66695385a4df29f8dbbf45265771e0055" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102676/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102676", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7569-bc03-7fd1d44f1a65" } u/mtwV8qGjyS07pdnb8zcEIDnx+tPE8jHNduGPAwzpSFFwF9UDRjLSmksV803R+XYb2dFsks8wsjowyTXa8PCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: u/mtwV8qGjyS07pdnb8zcEIDnx+tPE8jHNduGPAwzpSFFwF9UDRjLSmksV803R+XYb2dFsks8wsjowyTXa8PCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16282,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4eb3015d6a7a5f598fddac6b38d57f77fb4a43fd0a73b529d89fe83e9d9f713a"},{"bytes":6304,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6fc483ab7cf081b55ed152320b11822e37f50e32c98b357748fa8bfd699325cb"},{"bytes":5993,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7afcea8c6a2866f20c51042cd2b9391db8131c22053055009381f77d6879db70"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2c93c2ead38eac05ed3cafac0590bd04f4f6da974fa44c4b37129a503ca7cda0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3693008fee4ce4e4e603ef9a7936e6176cea3001cf599a1a669ee2f2bb9e80ea"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7226bfd6f406df8589269dbea3518be089440ab2825098c0329ef9409789e753"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102677"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102677
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102677

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
7afcea8c6a2866f20c51042cd2b9391db8131c22053055009381f77d6879db70

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102677, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102677.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102677" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102677" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102677 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102677 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102677 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102677 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102677", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16282, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4eb3015d6a7a5f598fddac6b38d57f77fb4a43fd0a73b529d89fe83e9d9f713a" }, { "bytes": 6304, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6fc483ab7cf081b55ed152320b11822e37f50e32c98b357748fa8bfd699325cb" }, { "bytes": 5993, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7afcea8c6a2866f20c51042cd2b9391db8131c22053055009381f77d6879db70" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102677/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102677", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-727f-b05e-28eb636549c8" } hilQE9dlMA2lZKT6xA1/IzLi4YGJ6jxaE0c4fF7KmzumKhhRaDx6oqJzZH79ULJuGWbjpPSh2ZTH0pizM3ApAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: hilQE9dlMA2lZKT6xA1/IzLi4YGJ6jxaE0c4fF7KmzumKhhRaDx6oqJzZH79ULJuGWbjpPSh2ZTH0pizM3ApAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17090,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3492c89503f93d082ed68e26f802224e5b487791878e62eb1410ae29e39ded98"},{"bytes":7002,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1072bc933d4d35d9a309eec37aafad6df3a1eae30befa5428d2ffd17ee7043af"},{"bytes":6688,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b476ed7b33aaec1f8c818743a70e0e417bd24f72cbff25a7280344a0504a2fdc"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2ac2c8126ccf944016d90549b56e18e411f3fd285c3854f2f9bc0d2622242e66"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e58c339811b2bab3863558c4545a15237273e989adfe0f647d3308c4be865928"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"612d43d60639ac9f9abd60599e94aef234767d60a0e98c411f63c7d673cd6dea"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102678"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102678
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102678

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b476ed7b33aaec1f8c818743a70e0e417bd24f72cbff25a7280344a0504a2fdc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102678, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102678.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102678" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102678" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102678 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102678 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102678 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102678 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102678", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17090, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3492c89503f93d082ed68e26f802224e5b487791878e62eb1410ae29e39ded98" }, { "bytes": 7002, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1072bc933d4d35d9a309eec37aafad6df3a1eae30befa5428d2ffd17ee7043af" }, { "bytes": 6688, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b476ed7b33aaec1f8c818743a70e0e417bd24f72cbff25a7280344a0504a2fdc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102678/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102678", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-72af-ad42-06cd8006c27e" } 6aJMjIn4CiMmAxL0jfbF0rluFFYRZPl/HsZn9UQzm4YMKTUd4heym9h2OTxSa9454lI27Uh5HQVhI6YPmhN1BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 6aJMjIn4CiMmAxL0jfbF0rluFFYRZPl/HsZn9UQzm4YMKTUd4heym9h2OTxSa9454lI27Uh5HQVhI6YPmhN1BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16837,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4ec19c6b742b0fccf8a527a07311bddcdd19f2cde6bcbe7e2330546d10087911"},{"bytes":6792,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"eeb9196f36cfc6f4a38f6a776435a424a26699544524fd24b8f25655e659d668"},{"bytes":6478,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"64ccee63ff0840c51c8e48cbd1ef92adaa564ba266cf98f30da3fe295260bc85"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"26e5f52e6e5f02f89d35aa0d376ec69f7f8f34c3f0bdc7879a00cadd81f0668a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1c752a73e756d851c0e9e1cfa29688f3474b1d87117b81440c654aa19431220d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"408a0d88deaa8fe6d5a75c411c1275ffa8cc200e05d084d44d4a006f963e9bbb"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102679"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102679
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102679

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
64ccee63ff0840c51c8e48cbd1ef92adaa564ba266cf98f30da3fe295260bc85

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102679, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102679.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102679" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102679" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102679 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102679 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102679 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102679 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102680

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
9daa777110f0870f6e586017f07419914b8c79a35416e4f1e897f6bf2e20d4b3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102680, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102680.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102680" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102680" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102680 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102680 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102680 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102680 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102681

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
466e8a5f252fec5cbd33dcb23f815390e6d97e8cdb553061aae8593d526b1e9f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102681, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102681.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102681" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102681" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102681 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102681 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102681 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102681 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102681", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17090, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d78f597ed8b63808bdafa0e03c221ea34d753684793496e554a80aa7d2b7236d" }, { "bytes": 7002, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bed7bffbbffcdab73949622e054744cf60d00af49ecbcf9acf8864c82b1d4c1e" }, { "bytes": 6688, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "466e8a5f252fec5cbd33dcb23f815390e6d97e8cdb553061aae8593d526b1e9f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102681/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102681", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-75fd-9c79-d87e388e45c8" } zx0pWGmsjiESO3ko63M6DHi+alFjGqC9Jjpe8HWzN3/AqPV7Qp6ZjLOb40NS+TtFZTYKAyfRyLhTJvcABKufDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: zx0pWGmsjiESO3ko63M6DHi+alFjGqC9Jjpe8HWzN3/AqPV7Qp6ZjLOb40NS+TtFZTYKAyfRyLhTJvcABKufDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16837,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f148641b05725a3ae80dcb1acefa3187c54835f139987216158107d4ac1fdb8d"},{"bytes":6792,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d3f795acfc54804671d90f397e95eaad46b8c83e88befdfbf96da679e8bfd1e5"},{"bytes":6478,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3f7342eed1f3e824786dfb847288278e58713f0b2d262aa7c3cb89e2cf441464"},{"bytes":2757,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c0b43fc4603ae9b2bc3bf3d99f458fe82d481dc451e90d5e5ea45bd125e51399"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8669fcd78d508ee74717fe0774d185ea0e76017ac49cd3f2248d232cd192a2ba"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"623c9dbb3376d577a92834d560b7149d9258f89d598e8fb3479bdb7c6bf8d5f6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102682"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102682
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102682

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3f7342eed1f3e824786dfb847288278e58713f0b2d262aa7c3cb89e2cf441464

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102682, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102682.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102682" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102682" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102682 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102682 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102682 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102682 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102682", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 913 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16837, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f148641b05725a3ae80dcb1acefa3187c54835f139987216158107d4ac1fdb8d" }, { "bytes": 6792, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d3f795acfc54804671d90f397e95eaad46b8c83e88befdfbf96da679e8bfd1e5" }, { "bytes": 6478, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3f7342eed1f3e824786dfb847288278e58713f0b2d262aa7c3cb89e2cf441464" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102682/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102682", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7009-837d-202667a0dd72" } 4Ov7uxLDbYF8RzSd86BWGU5AUdBDVAMroPjcrBW8ZqBzMfycGXzWxdB2S80CPDgcP5C0b4RxbHOuW72o3VNCDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 4Ov7uxLDbYF8RzSd86BWGU5AUdBDVAMroPjcrBW8ZqBzMfycGXzWxdB2S80CPDgcP5C0b4RxbHOuW72o3VNCDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16400,"name":"index.html","sha256":"af45493824eb44ac7488e05cd613878b6ceb3f4752abb0dd61827b0fb9d411c9"},{"bytes":6402,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"cb088459220c34da1238e0d4c22f8e3471fe35015e12ee228e13eb7c6494b99b"},{"bytes":6081,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"07ce44fa91d7a23341cc097b3d2137bd4e0a4c650737da7f48918bf16998de1e"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7a7c4d156f3b7c3851f0ba19d6ec83c954b9206519bc55b484757f27799f5bcb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1f99880eddcde0785d780ce9d7da35e11e4ef30d8f2b56e2dff6789856621e51"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e3d7dd5204de8ada0f695e04de501e8a623468c05963143ff1e608521f7f6b56"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102683"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102683
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102683

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
07ce44fa91d7a23341cc097b3d2137bd4e0a4c650737da7f48918bf16998de1e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102683, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102683.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102683" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102683" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102683 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102683 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102683 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102683 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102683", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16400, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "af45493824eb44ac7488e05cd613878b6ceb3f4752abb0dd61827b0fb9d411c9" }, { "bytes": 6402, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cb088459220c34da1238e0d4c22f8e3471fe35015e12ee228e13eb7c6494b99b" }, { "bytes": 6081, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "07ce44fa91d7a23341cc097b3d2137bd4e0a4c650737da7f48918bf16998de1e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102683/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102683", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-70db-91a3-a777c7a20fd3" } bkTnEMQV8OHtLbWNJkMabydhubfaqSODHCGPh1u7khyL8QaPqiOA92/zlm9UnSfs2aR5EziGUsQFUS0VefYOBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: bkTnEMQV8OHtLbWNJkMabydhubfaqSODHCGPh1u7khyL8QaPqiOA92/zlm9UnSfs2aR5EziGUsQFUS0VefYOBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17208,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2ea4856f3c3abda24b15438587a827e5f6480d0a578baaa35ed3dd2f9c00edcc"},{"bytes":7100,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"13546c5bc8f8380ffc5f21fa7bc959085faa516ca055062d634afcdc7fa011bc"},{"bytes":6776,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"545d00d86e5975753f6aa536b4e2072030a9c18437acbf1c7569ff3ce7945340"},{"bytes":2767,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d0107400be523ca10f694d151643745fdc45a21d60a3b99f6d6ebccc4ee6776d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a2c93fc5d86240fa1dbb0735feeaebd3cb98add15647045ea40375421b708077"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"73f29bfd4727e31016c9d497e4fd522b67def66ea108f2c0ffd5065b09802e4a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102684"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102684
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102684

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
545d00d86e5975753f6aa536b4e2072030a9c18437acbf1c7569ff3ce7945340

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102684, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102684.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102684" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102684" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102684 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102684 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102684 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102684 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102684", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17208, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2ea4856f3c3abda24b15438587a827e5f6480d0a578baaa35ed3dd2f9c00edcc" }, { "bytes": 7100, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "13546c5bc8f8380ffc5f21fa7bc959085faa516ca055062d634afcdc7fa011bc" }, { "bytes": 6776, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "545d00d86e5975753f6aa536b4e2072030a9c18437acbf1c7569ff3ce7945340" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102684/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102684", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7dce-9851-164ab40f63fb" } gyApRzemAg2EDoZZIE4GT+R45n17BQEY1LgKI7D9DWbFvHBVmyPuJGYoCqbOQU0w29Lnomi9bid2BGNJgyg1Ag== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: gyApRzemAg2EDoZZIE4GT+R45n17BQEY1LgKI7D9DWbFvHBVmyPuJGYoCqbOQU0w29Lnomi9bid2BGNJgyg1Ag== {"files":[{"bytes":16955,"name":"index.html","sha256":"387d320337a2fd9936152965e9956abd98a287c5b1cd902b1d3d4cc35c2f0fc8"},{"bytes":6890,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0da5a5ef15f07f75125c610e788d4c2090754cc767df6e39cd0db64902d61b73"},{"bytes":6566,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"efe4288cb35c0c345beafa026da149d4f01010562e0dcb64101fc30cd64df0e2"},{"bytes":2767,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"aba7e467e9cdf0e8c13a76e36300d446877efedfbca96f1bf50954c010e05b3a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"72e8438b990bed417a6a9a090cc89cf4b16d6f257e9f91063e7fa1709b6952e7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8496ffa6f6ef54bcc56cd93d287eb9de44885b3060b798af741342c53ce3f333"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102685"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102685
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102685

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
efe4288cb35c0c345beafa026da149d4f01010562e0dcb64101fc30cd64df0e2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102685, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102685.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102685" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102685" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102685 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102685 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102685 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102685 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102686

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
963983987a5d90e23e49fb79a457a45460a7490407af89395d5b23c5fc8af817

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102686, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102686.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102686" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102686" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102686 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102686 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102686 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102686 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102686", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 854 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16401, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3c03e073421501f5257c5221aa830820b1c4c5df3843da7d7da468be4e94db39" }, { "bytes": 6403, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "447783cce1db30f9e796402f4852fd50a4cd9eabf4166358c92fbee0a01526c0" }, { "bytes": 6082, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "963983987a5d90e23e49fb79a457a45460a7490407af89395d5b23c5fc8af817" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102686/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102686", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7da3-86fe-3403dabdc41d" } w5ndHpdP6RTefEWkvomFwBev50rIpQ3AKHYhCH6GCvO2/N/NrisBbrTZAfr0LxjyyQqLNDrbaJjvhNsLXP2TBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: w5ndHpdP6RTefEWkvomFwBev50rIpQ3AKHYhCH6GCvO2/N/NrisBbrTZAfr0LxjyyQqLNDrbaJjvhNsLXP2TBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17209,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f88659447ca3e7c303eddc934388986857ab9e1dc3316facc1d3653f17ab655f"},{"bytes":7101,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"14f7d48e16099067900d6896381fd4d1739c3504f2275c40837d91b7cb6c0c4f"},{"bytes":6777,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"886351abef42ed0075833f6a13b8a95473bc8df8a4adaf4f5208f0285bcc1ffc"},{"bytes":2767,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7c75f05915308ea9bf70c42ac085a9d8743bc78fead6fac2c9a0e0ca102a820e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f7af56edbbea5c5627b34f715a8a6708a3005646d49998fa7f793d40a6860608"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"fa14bc30f03e64a4f4fbe862b1c646fea20b8db7b0b42b80596d13cfacfc23cc"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102687"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102687
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102687

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
886351abef42ed0075833f6a13b8a95473bc8df8a4adaf4f5208f0285bcc1ffc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102687, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102687.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102687" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102687" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102687 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102687 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102687 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102687 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102687", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 960 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17209, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f88659447ca3e7c303eddc934388986857ab9e1dc3316facc1d3653f17ab655f" }, { "bytes": 7101, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "14f7d48e16099067900d6896381fd4d1739c3504f2275c40837d91b7cb6c0c4f" }, { "bytes": 6777, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "886351abef42ed0075833f6a13b8a95473bc8df8a4adaf4f5208f0285bcc1ffc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102687/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102687", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-78d0-b551-aa3d47f20177" } PJ7O8yp8oYtsxRmMon6FCEM1kUT722QdWkICIuIdkrXazDzuxY/j6S293aaC6uXRVpy2W1L/S30g4t0kLx41Ag== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: PJ7O8yp8oYtsxRmMon6FCEM1kUT722QdWkICIuIdkrXazDzuxY/j6S293aaC6uXRVpy2W1L/S30g4t0kLx41Ag== {"files":[{"bytes":16956,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d17cd29d46598ba5269c9ff1c8b1976d387439712d00115babd29b050d72f0d5"},{"bytes":6891,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2416486a6bdfd2518db348d7abc4b21c7536a6ab4ae8b2f07d3cd417c89bdc22"},{"bytes":6567,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2c7e6c1b2e1c61dfa778c3fca6970c4fdc812439fa3c3dacbf9c50dca4049f38"},{"bytes":2767,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"bb31ba802d182366b33350cf10aeaa746b117795f137de0e1121d2a60872a713"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"001536c1e0030d2832198be7c9efb8293e799d7595d29ad731c3201504a0a49c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"42e2c5aa64dc6e037a245980419f08a3bfd69854e61d406f85bbbd053df21744"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102688"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102688
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102688

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2c7e6c1b2e1c61dfa778c3fca6970c4fdc812439fa3c3dacbf9c50dca4049f38

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102688, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102688.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102688" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102688" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102688 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102688 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102688 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102688 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102688", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 925 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16956, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d17cd29d46598ba5269c9ff1c8b1976d387439712d00115babd29b050d72f0d5" }, { "bytes": 6891, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2416486a6bdfd2518db348d7abc4b21c7536a6ab4ae8b2f07d3cd417c89bdc22" }, { "bytes": 6567, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2c7e6c1b2e1c61dfa778c3fca6970c4fdc812439fa3c3dacbf9c50dca4049f38" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102688/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102688", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-772f-a125-a14c07e15dc8" } Avh+EFqL7ZSslh8CPk3pl4i7t7ZM6S5DYRxqmsVypgIuCRGDeuiA5uS3rk5WpEi3TEy9Q647ollLog7vE3mVAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Avh+EFqL7ZSslh8CPk3pl4i7t7ZM6S5DYRxqmsVypgIuCRGDeuiA5uS3rk5WpEi3TEy9Q647ollLog7vE3mVAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16405,"name":"index.html","sha256":"82a7094a622c3ab9a8617b9aa12b254105d61264eab620656536b3b781e13a01"},{"bytes":6407,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"def26240982e60c7fb3a69fa89bfd9e5ba27cdda9099bb42fc1026a49cd3d75b"},{"bytes":6086,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5132ae6391c7cf357b77be11a7e2f379f4b514738a8ac5ddcd011ceb1f689ac2"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9f56c7b6d44414d1d1317181a40464fb62684d5f8f04e6d90f2c6e10fc23f1d1"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"44867239f3232b98f26bfb3fd345509b32c29fb69520882cb01b4fd19bcbd921"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"42adcca17d8e24b2745d06b093b571e860754276ac9afad3e6115cdc14c65ffc"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102689"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102689
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102689

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
5132ae6391c7cf357b77be11a7e2f379f4b514738a8ac5ddcd011ceb1f689ac2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102689, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102689.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102689" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102689" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102689 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102689 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102689 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102689 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102690

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
05c3dc725dda241dc6abe260d92ade3e4dd4f89668c1930d03aa66ae1022e113

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102690, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102690.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102690" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102690" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102690 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102690 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102690 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102690 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102691

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
fd4e785dc11755dabcc1b3aebf5b3283538e68308cf680645061af395f79e723

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102691, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102691.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102691" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102691" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102691 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102691 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102691 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102691 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102692

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
11ef36d9098d7e01fb9b18542afe03d17d7b01ea34aa0ffaf35e812061f39b80

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102692, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102692.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102692" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102692" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102692 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102692 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102692 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102692 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102692", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 894 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16578, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1ca07b2e935cd464e8cf4b4417610e42a0392658b8378d94d5ab9127dd47121a" }, { "bytes": 6552, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d56099598737f29e58469802779d77d20c166e474c5337d7356b389307ae1687" }, { "bytes": 6243, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "11ef36d9098d7e01fb9b18542afe03d17d7b01ea34aa0ffaf35e812061f39b80" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102692/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102692", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-72ac-887c-b62ea6203fd2" } 8bB5gkeF5refqgmvAU+eMEIRAhwMMQ10bV+lsLPMAK9L9eko+vRPLqq/x3WHUVslylkyF93Pa7Os4Dx8B/uBBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 8bB5gkeF5refqgmvAU+eMEIRAhwMMQ10bV+lsLPMAK9L9eko+vRPLqq/x3WHUVslylkyF93Pa7Os4Dx8B/uBBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17386,"name":"index.html","sha256":"87e4a898d4376ed6e949279801037c7aab6272a5a9eca0c14a81b5d0f5f3d05e"},{"bytes":7250,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c19a527e594b4c4352c02037001dd20c3f3b8472473f20a88a1b057dd82a537f"},{"bytes":6938,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e0444ac96ea88021375c613fed37ef2dd44d06570504496c07111076fc08259b"},{"bytes":2743,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"bc1491a43ef8601227f4a49ffbedc41b7e346e717d0a112f638cd427c7975cda"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e7dab61d80912658c6a9eace4b1f4b7278b5fddbc468c7565566561a82437466"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"001c45f5e765ed4226fd8e254137d1b6335d3dd637ee8cf76c2fab89a0cd2831"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102693"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102693
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102693

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e0444ac96ea88021375c613fed37ef2dd44d06570504496c07111076fc08259b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102693, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102693.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102693" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102693" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102693 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102693 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102693 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102693 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102693", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 1000 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17386, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "87e4a898d4376ed6e949279801037c7aab6272a5a9eca0c14a81b5d0f5f3d05e" }, { "bytes": 7250, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c19a527e594b4c4352c02037001dd20c3f3b8472473f20a88a1b057dd82a537f" }, { "bytes": 6938, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e0444ac96ea88021375c613fed37ef2dd44d06570504496c07111076fc08259b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102693/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102693", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-77b0-8d22-60ec06b6000e" } AgRIW7uwHe2PXcZSloKNaNoo2AWHnol5m3zsBJSiEiAKsoq25yN4/p4h9W6H3jG2MQZFZxJ+0DZ28/96KF7xDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: AgRIW7uwHe2PXcZSloKNaNoo2AWHnol5m3zsBJSiEiAKsoq25yN4/p4h9W6H3jG2MQZFZxJ+0DZ28/96KF7xDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17133,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f3734169cce518c123a999f4fd6d47d79d5933a208066587970ce489de0e45e3"},{"bytes":7040,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"fef933fa0bdf7e57359db7a7ef76664974739ef9d92da2b3d2bf5f05983bc98f"},{"bytes":6728,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e54cd71adcf80ddc783afa02f781a35817bb93549e932343922cb6c893a603d3"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"493f69e01e824f0ea426fc8ec3d2f41abb60ed038d1da8d3899ccd3134d7e90e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9bc023f84a2050897e0e206f2696d32df5b19fe24481ae58721a263833f26b56"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"df20525ff67970303ccbcf1f8a1167e02a72566f770961cf42154169b6a27191"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102694"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102694
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102694

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e54cd71adcf80ddc783afa02f781a35817bb93549e932343922cb6c893a603d3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102694, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102694.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102694" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102694" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102694 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102694 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102694 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102694 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102694", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 965 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17133, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "f3734169cce518c123a999f4fd6d47d79d5933a208066587970ce489de0e45e3" }, { "bytes": 7040, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "fef933fa0bdf7e57359db7a7ef76664974739ef9d92da2b3d2bf5f05983bc98f" }, { "bytes": 6728, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e54cd71adcf80ddc783afa02f781a35817bb93549e932343922cb6c893a603d3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102694/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102694", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-71f1-b132-5eab75befed9" } +4uxHfdIYBBm6nqEzM8GTD6LOqvdQlZ6DUIr6hXPBeuj/Vc7sHxcx5LW4iMiT2peFO9ED1ub4d70scWUAARuDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +4uxHfdIYBBm6nqEzM8GTD6LOqvdQlZ6DUIr6hXPBeuj/Vc7sHxcx5LW4iMiT2peFO9ED1ub4d70scWUAARuDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16524,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5a5050c4a7abbc8b6e3d26322a710908fc0ba5f99ef3b1e5dac47db1fba028a3"},{"bytes":6498,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b1613d9750f80cfdf045ce919a848c62dc57b73974e7329534af1f652248ad88"},{"bytes":6189,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"05e04f896a8d0693f6f00634e3707493b17c7bdddb63fdbfdeedcd1329e1282a"},{"bytes":2733,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8bd330a61956c92ecf404ec9d63ce4c7014e299ef1c7fa3240dda73dcb770640"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"cffa4e724a92ff5a0fb4f65321fcb22085067265293053a7afc1fdff58d880d5"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0a6aa637f9929c3cd0960ddcdc83c740b48b63ccf641d8fc3ed9df5c3d81c187"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102695"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102695
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102695

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
05e04f896a8d0693f6f00634e3707493b17c7bdddb63fdbfdeedcd1329e1282a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102695, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102695.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102695" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102695" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102695 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102695 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102695 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102695 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102696

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
77e739c06b73326fbfb93342b1d13ad53f9630fd1ced93892470388fe9235d91

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102696, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102696.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102696" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102696" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102696 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102696 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102696 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102696 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102696", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 985 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17332, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e8d8a666c2c94b6f8cc4f2419c9a0d36d8d9c16b1c591515aa10a2e041bfd1db" }, { "bytes": 7196, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a7ad272d9048b94ec8a1a84e9b82ff4d3949598e67a153966fdbfb6ca7fcef02" }, { "bytes": 6884, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "77e739c06b73326fbfb93342b1d13ad53f9630fd1ced93892470388fe9235d91" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102696/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102696", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7304-b542-62a7b9589517" } VMb+ShMAlhJ9ukgsrv2UPJJoC7m9Z45BRhXHGIYXdVqkc0H17g8m7vqjCSrjQ+7DV8rQCaY33nAXGuKD0F7aCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: VMb+ShMAlhJ9ukgsrv2UPJJoC7m9Z45BRhXHGIYXdVqkc0H17g8m7vqjCSrjQ+7DV8rQCaY33nAXGuKD0F7aCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17079,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1b3170b36c6036d07cae60cdab25658b8ff6d949325d0ff0915230c5c4323136"},{"bytes":6986,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b4f741918c736433c1eb6897df817404077851aca67c6f68f5c38d5421114f1a"},{"bytes":6674,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6a5fe04bda27d4f405f5fd1cd41399eb1ba0315149ee60f7945dbc755f6d0222"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a795f976c9ee5f2bacbea104807fd1533bb63a5507486d1903a7fbfdc5685700"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2340148154608c2335057df1841e7eab1cf4d965b0d6a578489507b8432d8206"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f22c3d657a7a4633d1e87850f212fe161a4a96bcf8c7725ac41bdb62a3aec727"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102697"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102697
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102697

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6a5fe04bda27d4f405f5fd1cd41399eb1ba0315149ee60f7945dbc755f6d0222

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102697, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102697.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102697" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102697" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102697 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102697 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102697 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102697 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102697", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 950 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17079, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1b3170b36c6036d07cae60cdab25658b8ff6d949325d0ff0915230c5c4323136" }, { "bytes": 6986, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b4f741918c736433c1eb6897df817404077851aca67c6f68f5c38d5421114f1a" }, { "bytes": 6674, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6a5fe04bda27d4f405f5fd1cd41399eb1ba0315149ee60f7945dbc755f6d0222" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102697/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102697", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7bdd-86a6-b083faee5f22" } mV27kCV9DlxgMOwuKOeXO28SW1+/UnLOdu+lQMviyI2mBf1LXemzGPnC3jByqMg92J+tQalDwcEGWLR5aQU4Dg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: mV27kCV9DlxgMOwuKOeXO28SW1+/UnLOdu+lQMviyI2mBf1LXemzGPnC3jByqMg92J+tQalDwcEGWLR5aQU4Dg== {"files":[{"bytes":16294,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9d761436c199dbc0e4f7c55bf96fc2bdc5fc5ec9171cc4de79b464c7d5dd6be5"},{"bytes":6312,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"fd80630622a68c6cf89bface320333c410169f9d995056e944feb87c7b74fdea"},{"bytes":5999,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2672fe1fa4cfb92ebf75d85e9d6668ab5ffe7c620c5e82894ccd2d865613136d"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"95740aae233f6b1471d6fe00e82dd249d62a1aa76f21c9f2edeb51376ad535a9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"58a22dd227a4b68e6ac7227fcf214d4c32709fa919479ad452f132d71606cd2f"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6f4e95698af45fe5eab096b8243dd875361df86d2bb030a9427238fa211d14f8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102698"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102698
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102698

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2672fe1fa4cfb92ebf75d85e9d6668ab5ffe7c620c5e82894ccd2d865613136d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102698, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102698.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102698" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102698" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102698 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102698 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102698 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102698 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102698", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16294, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9d761436c199dbc0e4f7c55bf96fc2bdc5fc5ec9171cc4de79b464c7d5dd6be5" }, { "bytes": 6312, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "fd80630622a68c6cf89bface320333c410169f9d995056e944feb87c7b74fdea" }, { "bytes": 5999, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2672fe1fa4cfb92ebf75d85e9d6668ab5ffe7c620c5e82894ccd2d865613136d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102698/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102698", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7c81-b8f3-fb031b98808a" } 3WReKhCi7Cp5ZKnIgbCtiDuNYCspJMAbsmc69DxUMhMKZgPmzHcc2Fjq4EENALB96yYo5sYanMFH3wfVpUAqBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 3WReKhCi7Cp5ZKnIgbCtiDuNYCspJMAbsmc69DxUMhMKZgPmzHcc2Fjq4EENALB96yYo5sYanMFH3wfVpUAqBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17102,"name":"index.html","sha256":"57d6b7473fe8f435508c0b80e8c5f546297c310625861cfb97be857de3e404e6"},{"bytes":7010,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3436548298352bff5848d4a3a1bd37c41256c2d8ee2a1c0c8ccc04657648634a"},{"bytes":6694,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e8fc030aaa6c3206665f4a6d26c0b25b2700983815827eba88cbf7608cebb65c"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f26bd27e055fd174e4bfbc3eadc09661bde2c832c4b1b9788843d18eaa3f1b94"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a51cdea34473ba001c731e540158a486a7e76ac6e3d479b10a639600b0c9980e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ee44abcb76f2df558d07e34ed84c8c42cb741dc2039ef32135c1efc4c6345f8d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102699"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102699
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102699

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e8fc030aaa6c3206665f4a6d26c0b25b2700983815827eba88cbf7608cebb65c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102699, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102699.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102699" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102699" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102699 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102699 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102699 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102699 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102700

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a8f1d2995a2f9a5cc5ce53b4fc8c018d0293e69335b41a9ad1b6f994a8dddb8f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102700, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102700.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102700" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102700" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102700 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102700 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102700 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102700 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102701

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
9432ed1d3c7464e962c7e0729285067d3c29fc2eebe3d484480185903465052a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102701, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102701.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102701" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102701" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102701 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102701 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102701 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102701 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102701", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 842 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16294, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "12c3001e727673ce233f32aedf83722e98a7609155cd17405d3b14e9c6d99956" }, { "bytes": 6312, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "bfab849a67000cf7900d74f162b7c16e4066975b3b4b64dad003c8ab4b312b25" }, { "bytes": 5999, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9432ed1d3c7464e962c7e0729285067d3c29fc2eebe3d484480185903465052a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102701/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102701", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7f50-b30c-7a21d99055cb" } F6PX9F8xgmTqXYr9pul2SnHV7Z3orZkB//myYv1yw0OIEfqESuMN3j41R0uVWllBSSlII3OPLYTqq649w0KlAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: F6PX9F8xgmTqXYr9pul2SnHV7Z3orZkB//myYv1yw0OIEfqESuMN3j41R0uVWllBSSlII3OPLYTqq649w0KlAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17102,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cf65e64b4f08732e568eb15175b7b0cd16b4939c9118fa4fa07697abd8b356a6"},{"bytes":7010,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ed410e3a2de54c8bef7cbead9b44a78ecd72571761edb18a5a79488a96e53254"},{"bytes":6694,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ea74917b5378ec07dfec2b65487cce84caba0ce3bb56266d24abb662932b34d8"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"18e2fdb006d0530683f43f1f4f106784e2187f33c2229738e9d0b570e0332306"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"007bff6cb95b84d1940ed199673e3e1efd345268aa00f75c796717c492decb85"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f3bed77d1d2ae532b58bf6be94a4222a1714f67b7de227b0edfa7350d76cf874"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102702"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102702
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102702

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ea74917b5378ec07dfec2b65487cce84caba0ce3bb56266d24abb662932b34d8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102702, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102702.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102702" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102702" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102702 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102702 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102702 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102702 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102702", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17102, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cf65e64b4f08732e568eb15175b7b0cd16b4939c9118fa4fa07697abd8b356a6" }, { "bytes": 7010, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ed410e3a2de54c8bef7cbead9b44a78ecd72571761edb18a5a79488a96e53254" }, { "bytes": 6694, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ea74917b5378ec07dfec2b65487cce84caba0ce3bb56266d24abb662932b34d8" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102702/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102702", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-76dd-8b77-4f52e18fa112" } tFFo8dQiJSVlobuHZFZ0dNmVJepHfAKqgxBq4TNMXZi3ZrXl4bwjoYSg5+HhLEcHKJqegK5YZERsPs3CkBdODQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: tFFo8dQiJSVlobuHZFZ0dNmVJepHfAKqgxBq4TNMXZi3ZrXl4bwjoYSg5+HhLEcHKJqegK5YZERsPs3CkBdODQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16849,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c71b333265a618b36a588676993b49bfbb93cb44f3c859a6a156eb171ba424ed"},{"bytes":6800,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2736dda53439f097cffe349c3a07acc2443f59741c135cfb942da0ee03fe36b7"},{"bytes":6484,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fa274e74103caa18cdb5f5efaa2f031083928e526d7a51500f78ece3555e14f5"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"59ad93024ad91f8cf955a4b8bdde2c32228034bc0629eb5e38b97b83aa5363d6"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e0701e1ac5a2bbf3fc5e5159d3ee34d65dbac9e9370de44627698a4604768139"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0d20407cbd11ebee9b1c629f8d571c865aeeb3abc6a78e8fdcf075625092b53b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102703"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102703
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102703

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
fa274e74103caa18cdb5f5efaa2f031083928e526d7a51500f78ece3555e14f5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102703, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102703.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102703" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102703" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102703 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102703 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102703 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102703 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102703", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 913 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16849, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c71b333265a618b36a588676993b49bfbb93cb44f3c859a6a156eb171ba424ed" }, { "bytes": 6800, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2736dda53439f097cffe349c3a07acc2443f59741c135cfb942da0ee03fe36b7" }, { "bytes": 6484, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fa274e74103caa18cdb5f5efaa2f031083928e526d7a51500f78ece3555e14f5" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102703/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102703", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7616-b674-47f7b57c9858" } mhx7RV30ue9pa8+62DZl2/8YTf4NiIfFdbjG9sR73l2n0Gk9ychWeYQ20n6lriHI8LsqqRt4378cp08zBQrCCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: mhx7RV30ue9pa8+62DZl2/8YTf4NiIfFdbjG9sR73l2n0Gk9ychWeYQ20n6lriHI8LsqqRt4378cp08zBQrCCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16291,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b3b46bb9a14b6409a9ca78c8e99a59dfadf4a1324fa78c91ffd13fd97e9f6e1d"},{"bytes":6366,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9d722778622e0d92281f7abb51037c6e298555eaf3e275cce9032d6c198c6091"},{"bytes":6021,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d1c32818bc2022a5fde2f78a678e8ccf97330eb58b74eac4974b80b4abd7085c"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f9b509814826d3a084dbe5b2b412c26af0167b6b02362ab7072571efad431fac"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"bd1b7a4f6a56e2c2f2f90677fe7e6538bdfb69539ef7faf55ed887788ea72534"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c531c49c7c995a5bd8ab459b082803744504714ee405e7bf7d69d1d0218b1272"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102704"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102704
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102704

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d1c32818bc2022a5fde2f78a678e8ccf97330eb58b74eac4974b80b4abd7085c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102704, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102704.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102704" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102704" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102704 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102704 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102704 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102704 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102704", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16291, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b3b46bb9a14b6409a9ca78c8e99a59dfadf4a1324fa78c91ffd13fd97e9f6e1d" }, { "bytes": 6366, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9d722778622e0d92281f7abb51037c6e298555eaf3e275cce9032d6c198c6091" }, { "bytes": 6021, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d1c32818bc2022a5fde2f78a678e8ccf97330eb58b74eac4974b80b4abd7085c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102704/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102704", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7702-b0a9-3ac57d143a77" } 3yWPzBKWikoIXRnAIbkb84JIfl/lu3Est0LdCnY1Jix3EA4M3HPI0OZ7RCnEQ2MliPGwTmgABU2DH2KyO9JIDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 3yWPzBKWikoIXRnAIbkb84JIfl/lu3Est0LdCnY1Jix3EA4M3HPI0OZ7RCnEQ2MliPGwTmgABU2DH2KyO9JIDg== {"files":[{"bytes":17093,"name":"index.html","sha256":"688cbfc306313b8b4b021718b981b8ab12edbd0d7e58fe6446e89496f16f1208"},{"bytes":7058,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"019d99b549a44227be6a91cf4654376c4d3afde42a4678f248396d8cc26c5eee"},{"bytes":6710,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2a3f1c66af2f0c827a0fe719ba9eb71f73d6b77b4a6bda03764ad3014a1bc8f4"},{"bytes":2823,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7685faba111997d8ff024f0835e971f66972a7bae9051afc5bf7cae87b9218fe"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b5f8acdc9b6b89592979c3f8116d2c03f65c9ed47622e6b506a9de041ad6bc60"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0649e84dbde4c5486195008fb110c82582548a001c106cf28958f732689854da"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102705"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102705
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102705

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
2a3f1c66af2f0c827a0fe719ba9eb71f73d6b77b4a6bda03764ad3014a1bc8f4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102705, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102705.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102705" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102705" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102705 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102705 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102705 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102705 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102706

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
55fbc76aee5d53220d55bc53030f2b198a400cd8f48c1c7e68f68bf7d9f4b4dd

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102706, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102706.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102706" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102706" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102706 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102706 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102706 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102706 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102706", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16840, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e28661cb15e694ecfc951194ad24c147c72bf8c07864a473f1effcc94ab6b559" }, { "bytes": 6848, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f57c54f57616c37f7574ca72f2256fed82532f2b5409bb57e798ec45d7ccf4cf" }, { "bytes": 6500, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "55fbc76aee5d53220d55bc53030f2b198a400cd8f48c1c7e68f68bf7d9f4b4dd" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102706/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102706", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7847-89d1-3f37f4e2bfb6" } sCl8DHg6X7UbppTfe9MKwT8HIxM5AaStgmKp8Yr31OXGG8Q77x1Y5elz3mQY0tojttzVXlZ/bndLikYLqX0ICg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sCl8DHg6X7UbppTfe9MKwT8HIxM5AaStgmKp8Yr31OXGG8Q77x1Y5elz3mQY0tojttzVXlZ/bndLikYLqX0ICg== {"files":[{"bytes":16292,"name":"index.html","sha256":"19970ddf2fc78d1153f5141c4d8114864e5ba9155a2342101575ab6beaeab136"},{"bytes":6367,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2e88060fb10a25d33158dbc4591ded617a38a78df6f1bce0b188bbd4de8a6363"},{"bytes":6022,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"719ce0b509bff5c5455179680f97b5feca47f26d264feb35d3f30669a68fc5dd"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3b382ff4178c6730ec09711b5f43e993e23d5fc311eb165330b9c43a9d7a417f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"bb6cf37088f24e801221a9a1ae423b26e78fc9fb6576c21fc688844384e69a8e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6cd7f3a6eaa4356dc90d0407786a4cdfebf7472d2a3ec0015a87345294641e07"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102707"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102707
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102707

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
719ce0b509bff5c5455179680f97b5feca47f26d264feb35d3f30669a68fc5dd

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102707, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102707.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102707" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102707" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102707 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102707 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102707 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102707 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102707", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16292, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "19970ddf2fc78d1153f5141c4d8114864e5ba9155a2342101575ab6beaeab136" }, { "bytes": 6367, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2e88060fb10a25d33158dbc4591ded617a38a78df6f1bce0b188bbd4de8a6363" }, { "bytes": 6022, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "719ce0b509bff5c5455179680f97b5feca47f26d264feb35d3f30669a68fc5dd" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102707/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102707", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7f8f-819a-14cd202e602f" } eMiLTAt8vKByC7LanQqsIMhBQeDkP23fQmAhM8h0RkxqYtIwjOJE3zJIpVYljQ/1HAeUdbVe9c8xQ5FDL8y1Bw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: eMiLTAt8vKByC7LanQqsIMhBQeDkP23fQmAhM8h0RkxqYtIwjOJE3zJIpVYljQ/1HAeUdbVe9c8xQ5FDL8y1Bw== {"files":[{"bytes":17094,"name":"index.html","sha256":"04b48107dc4b9f845b24a73d803f74509547988193a547e44b44b65a074a5cd3"},{"bytes":7059,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ecc9af043f8699c06f4fc655c5e2f5320409339359e6ebbaa0e872583cb9d2ce"},{"bytes":6711,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"743321fe8f8d0eaa27473f0bbf7ca311c528bcb0d5c051c005b6868791ae123c"},{"bytes":2823,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"36d18a5bc2195a4b558ab5b631c82af12f71c67a5bd487628a2a12a24ee2ac71"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"77918fa45e3394dc9257b7b4d93ed85c30bdb4e38498f1327503f5d68ed6d5dc"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"2035aff940fc402bf8b86b9f0a875b3e7caee8346c871e714e215ea30ec484e8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102708"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102708
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102708

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
743321fe8f8d0eaa27473f0bbf7ca311c528bcb0d5c051c005b6868791ae123c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102708, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102708.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102708" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102708" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102708 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102708 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102708 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102708 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102708", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17094, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "04b48107dc4b9f845b24a73d803f74509547988193a547e44b44b65a074a5cd3" }, { "bytes": 7059, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ecc9af043f8699c06f4fc655c5e2f5320409339359e6ebbaa0e872583cb9d2ce" }, { "bytes": 6711, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "743321fe8f8d0eaa27473f0bbf7ca311c528bcb0d5c051c005b6868791ae123c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102708/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102708", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7abc-b4ef-58996dbe9832" } P3eZs6r3PgFpAZU0l1vsyNFqL8lfAtGt6XLLOOwalTXqT7dkYjC68SjbmGx8fwCaFOHlRlzXRdIwOQXXLmsvAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: P3eZs6r3PgFpAZU0l1vsyNFqL8lfAtGt6XLLOOwalTXqT7dkYjC68SjbmGx8fwCaFOHlRlzXRdIwOQXXLmsvAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16841,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d855dfe987e5f0d23ac64ee47f4399c8d337c6beb7a7d1b2321987143418d092"},{"bytes":6849,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"638edd872048c66bfbcb25c464512932e0188063129ad7575d36ab44f9617616"},{"bytes":6501,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bb211a40f0c92244deca69c6e0eac6e678b073666263d571887d1973c3d9873a"},{"bytes":2823,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"527544807112c1e9a546dd68b5914b046c0a9a4f9fc88ce304e92539752dbcdb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2763ce5458821e42db1990c80bc9b5bc021f6178810acee3955f98b9cd9ecce3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"925485e1155aeae46fcdf90e281195c59c2ca74274c2e7e931313825d1f4423d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102709"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102709
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102709

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
bb211a40f0c92244deca69c6e0eac6e678b073666263d571887d1973c3d9873a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102709, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102709.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102709" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102709" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102709 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102709 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102709 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102709 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102709", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16841, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d855dfe987e5f0d23ac64ee47f4399c8d337c6beb7a7d1b2321987143418d092" }, { "bytes": 6849, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "638edd872048c66bfbcb25c464512932e0188063129ad7575d36ab44f9617616" }, { "bytes": 6501, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bb211a40f0c92244deca69c6e0eac6e678b073666263d571887d1973c3d9873a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102709/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102709", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-708a-8191-de5db78009cc" } +9FhVayyACYkrhQLC/OhlgwoX23wk+Whp0//4ii6PQS+554/mO+0WO0d7NOLxohBkPtKyba4quRvSlmHJc53CA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +9FhVayyACYkrhQLC/OhlgwoX23wk+Whp0//4ii6PQS+554/mO+0WO0d7NOLxohBkPtKyba4quRvSlmHJc53CA== {"files":[{"bytes":16296,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0ed1a90f9f3df0d70e3689ac0179c9aebdcb60782a200ddfd51c96b207665259"},{"bytes":6371,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d657083ad5cd185f99a2bf5086f52228e53433fd5d6375495e06a8776ba4dff0"},{"bytes":6026,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"093511340819eb5d43ce31fe03661ee030dbfb60e040d2d9d7ba1bff704c4c0d"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0aa1497c2852addfe14d5c4b5a234e038029048dfbf64553316e8cf8a47e9a43"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"21e0db472e9105890ee13f5ba124cef4abb4b1d5f976110ef94ab9be93129a4a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c03b30d1418f5060f23986b47fe3377924b913b6b6b58113cf93b5e87e507bc5"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102710"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102710
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102710

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
093511340819eb5d43ce31fe03661ee030dbfb60e040d2d9d7ba1bff704c4c0d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102710, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102710.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102710" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102710" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102710 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102710 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102710 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102710 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102710", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16296, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0ed1a90f9f3df0d70e3689ac0179c9aebdcb60782a200ddfd51c96b207665259" }, { "bytes": 6371, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d657083ad5cd185f99a2bf5086f52228e53433fd5d6375495e06a8776ba4dff0" }, { "bytes": 6026, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "093511340819eb5d43ce31fe03661ee030dbfb60e040d2d9d7ba1bff704c4c0d" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102710/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102710", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-788f-9024-981ca92570bb" } ABbx9Y1QErMhM/FKy32dBvCoUzP6ychOc3BOxaDztu6FIQvkZ5NOKL531ogFHbAahhvLydC6k4sPefXXbcNJAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: ABbx9Y1QErMhM/FKy32dBvCoUzP6ychOc3BOxaDztu6FIQvkZ5NOKL531ogFHbAahhvLydC6k4sPefXXbcNJAA== {"files":[{"bytes":17098,"name":"index.html","sha256":"90cf328d5cfebd5bb4e400da4e543d7d43ab294498f7d8103465be04751f7b1c"},{"bytes":7063,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"78afad71d06006cfa95fccac08ba2fce29ac8cfcfe2ad0e179898d1ba430dfb4"},{"bytes":6715,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"95788cf6f5d5f95729269731b89134a4d95e72a33140a43c3a89a1998d1cf92b"},{"bytes":2823,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"262500c1570ea0ccbefab92f7bf79a17c124dc68feb9ad4727a6c9603f2517dc"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"fc8d68228977ac9d94f73092d80e871df10fa078790074a562db56c464fec498"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5cc40a24e3c6cf073e97934044356b8a42f278614e8ede03305e58cfd863ce45"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102711"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102711
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102711

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
95788cf6f5d5f95729269731b89134a4d95e72a33140a43c3a89a1998d1cf92b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102711, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102711.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102711" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102711" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102711 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102711 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102711 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102711 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102711", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17098, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "90cf328d5cfebd5bb4e400da4e543d7d43ab294498f7d8103465be04751f7b1c" }, { "bytes": 7063, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "78afad71d06006cfa95fccac08ba2fce29ac8cfcfe2ad0e179898d1ba430dfb4" }, { "bytes": 6715, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "95788cf6f5d5f95729269731b89134a4d95e72a33140a43c3a89a1998d1cf92b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102711/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102711", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7701-b425-f9fa6b5e7ed9" } JxlpDIJiWpbxFd8BKg8f47qq0F1w51VE2Q6JeckZ0ZFiFpZzf/EdWKGSb8SPv0MSZeNQjkfQYsZMizwIJ0thAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: JxlpDIJiWpbxFd8BKg8f47qq0F1w51VE2Q6JeckZ0ZFiFpZzf/EdWKGSb8SPv0MSZeNQjkfQYsZMizwIJ0thAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16845,"name":"index.html","sha256":"10c5222e4baaca03638b26cd0c04502c5843f55fd1f3766790becf52cc8a8d1e"},{"bytes":6853,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"64ce1ddfd414386e8ae85821fcef80bd91e6bceab86f4a73fdeca09d13e5845c"},{"bytes":6505,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"25c352fd8c8dcb79540598fc4bd384683f540bc2d8d808663004b682b3194b6a"},{"bytes":2823,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"74b185ee76bab3f991cc7c15b90e4f09ce49163d12bd7b1a66706e52cdb68de5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f00c260d9a1129976228143457542b5f56cec2f4ea4a15489e99d1faad82d5e7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7feed47da23ab6e1b1ef4a61c432a0d8d141afc65337df82077a10e308e35abd"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102712"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102712
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102712

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
25c352fd8c8dcb79540598fc4bd384683f540bc2d8d808663004b682b3194b6a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102712, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102712.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102712" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102712" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102712 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102712 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102712 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102712 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102712", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16845, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "10c5222e4baaca03638b26cd0c04502c5843f55fd1f3766790becf52cc8a8d1e" }, { "bytes": 6853, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "64ce1ddfd414386e8ae85821fcef80bd91e6bceab86f4a73fdeca09d13e5845c" }, { "bytes": 6505, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "25c352fd8c8dcb79540598fc4bd384683f540bc2d8d808663004b682b3194b6a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102712/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102712", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7a64-b4a4-5601620f0952" } cVSVFMuT/JF0jia85jVckspERXGqAY09CFRMx2T4ryEpkNzf/w2O78QNzfG3xA9zRnyEnrtOSqY3Mo0UL7MZCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: cVSVFMuT/JF0jia85jVckspERXGqAY09CFRMx2T4ryEpkNzf/w2O78QNzfG3xA9zRnyEnrtOSqY3Mo0UL7MZCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16469,"name":"index.html","sha256":"fd4e723186f08ed36338508cb535021afb8965a85566db833b558c5d6f73d637"},{"bytes":6516,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4ce43326324f2f9436214221faa08129064c9d66773636f0762bf781a13ffce1"},{"bytes":6183,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e1c6fb47e98c8311ee5893bb9800297f38f6833d49544825d56e50285df5b02f"},{"bytes":2789,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"edc3b0aad204d9ab9e9a962457dd1f69c928f3286aa4f7f6b7504bd63fc06859"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e1690473218d3f674cdb7fb9088232c0962b1b733905721b711fb6ab30bf14ed"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"fbe4f67279ee735da17c2c18a13acb0908b2525d0c35555d6c806221ead17319"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102713"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102713
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102713

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e1c6fb47e98c8311ee5893bb9800297f38f6833d49544825d56e50285df5b02f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102713, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102713.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102713" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102713" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102713 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102713 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102713 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102713 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102713", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 877 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16469, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "fd4e723186f08ed36338508cb535021afb8965a85566db833b558c5d6f73d637" }, { "bytes": 6516, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4ce43326324f2f9436214221faa08129064c9d66773636f0762bf781a13ffce1" }, { "bytes": 6183, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e1c6fb47e98c8311ee5893bb9800297f38f6833d49544825d56e50285df5b02f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102713/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102713", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-77ee-9a1f-e85c384a3a09" } l3cetnLYFvH7EGqZbOrYBt8BfAjCP4GyBGZa8MSQ7A5/h1bHYUQw+agBLZ91PDeL/2OrzpM9bO3wjgYJWks7BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: l3cetnLYFvH7EGqZbOrYBt8BfAjCP4GyBGZa8MSQ7A5/h1bHYUQw+agBLZ91PDeL/2OrzpM9bO3wjgYJWks7BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17271,"name":"index.html","sha256":"112135b605b3c15ec5c9707ab1a403b466ce3b61f13cc60af22324267c0deb57"},{"bytes":7208,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a6b75934cb2e23c9ff262aaed7f0128abf7cfc2c71c08612f68bd7af9f50825e"},{"bytes":6872,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"517895490a4cbd9608a114db8e497b7340ca0680861a6a0a937a8836094ad5db"},{"bytes":2798,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"86f7da09e4a5aba4d0e05754951aeaa6bbaf05f1913ae9ca398a8e3426317f4a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c7e261338009377feaa94669e91c486ac4ba996dbf2d425abc61f93ff3246bb9"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"54d93ff9400e601f4ecf47d7b9ebf02df54f21f31ebc5d6c624b3d174781e154"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102714"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102714
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102714

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
517895490a4cbd9608a114db8e497b7340ca0680861a6a0a937a8836094ad5db

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102714, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102714.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102714" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102714" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102714 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102714 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102714 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102714 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102714", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 983 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17271, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "112135b605b3c15ec5c9707ab1a403b466ce3b61f13cc60af22324267c0deb57" }, { "bytes": 7208, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a6b75934cb2e23c9ff262aaed7f0128abf7cfc2c71c08612f68bd7af9f50825e" }, { "bytes": 6872, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "517895490a4cbd9608a114db8e497b7340ca0680861a6a0a937a8836094ad5db" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102714/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102714", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7340-85dc-47c07b6c1186" } YQRcV+SOoDMlOKTijfi2BP9dTfWuDQ4MVmbjh73U3ocWS/TRX5UR8IWftWdsuwGiSw6zQ2vDoap18MrVyywOBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: YQRcV+SOoDMlOKTijfi2BP9dTfWuDQ4MVmbjh73U3ocWS/TRX5UR8IWftWdsuwGiSw6zQ2vDoap18MrVyywOBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17018,"name":"index.html","sha256":"191523d0ce37db99eac46ad096ea49cea1928e0d633db51273d69bd38ddad360"},{"bytes":6998,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f0366132fdacf6e8389c5c81ab96af52955f2ea8baad5c9916270e54b08f516f"},{"bytes":6662,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c742b55c745fbce162f98c905d4de636f707cd687aebf7218ca96cf02f4280d8"},{"bytes":2798,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"03696f38845054d2bf78b77620ede321ee920b01ecc8cd29c01fca31f4ba7ae5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"41dbc28a69ba33cb6248d67d61d054253367fcbb674b74ddd1300559ccd52028"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"01140e988480d05887f36bc0daeaf05f6ae6f2f6a2caf29fb95626d1fb778372"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102715"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102715
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102715

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
c742b55c745fbce162f98c905d4de636f707cd687aebf7218ca96cf02f4280d8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102715, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102715.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102715" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102715" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102715 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102715 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102715 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102715 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102716

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
830879cb0ef8db758d1c3457ae21e774737d08c57fa42fa495617e338faf50c8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102716, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102716.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102716" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102716" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102716 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102716 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102716 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102716 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102716", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 862 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16415, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "57bf3d20430885f3ad6ee32cafdfdddc9e3615f94c3fece685c38ae9ac007995" }, { "bytes": 6462, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2425bdb32f0162ee3ede369cf52765962d06f5c6efa6b45492f9f37a38f502d6" }, { "bytes": 6129, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "830879cb0ef8db758d1c3457ae21e774737d08c57fa42fa495617e338faf50c8" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102716/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102716", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7993-ba74-b4ee9f30e64f" } o6HpKUNdgwKEa93ZYLNtNpg0d1vMFl0yaEoUSV/jh2JQlnxF+7skr4leXZt8D2s9wxndJlwlFkY9+h9bozELAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: o6HpKUNdgwKEa93ZYLNtNpg0d1vMFl0yaEoUSV/jh2JQlnxF+7skr4leXZt8D2s9wxndJlwlFkY9+h9bozELAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17217,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0e1e86077bd19f0886d3799e982f3112bede9705d911df8d0336434aee7b3785"},{"bytes":7154,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b3f9b1dab4f6b4ded81d67a44f4f3c1e89e7620841f2da06818d0c664acad7aa"},{"bytes":6818,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8e80acdd58a21764838fc6abd0893a0a60b2beb311d95012b6827bfd0202275f"},{"bytes":2798,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ba80ffba4772c381485ac9e45189b30ef1197982e99cd81b3c32e7440b0c459c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"5701ae7851f45cad0a503a675a0ef5fed2039e98c230bacd03d5bf079a530f24"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ed4de4fc2300af047627e367e9b3dd21fa582202ae58a31c147406e3ed40c818"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102717"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102717
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102717

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
8e80acdd58a21764838fc6abd0893a0a60b2beb311d95012b6827bfd0202275f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102717, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102717.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102717" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102717" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102717 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102717 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102717 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102717 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102717", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 968 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17217, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0e1e86077bd19f0886d3799e982f3112bede9705d911df8d0336434aee7b3785" }, { "bytes": 7154, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b3f9b1dab4f6b4ded81d67a44f4f3c1e89e7620841f2da06818d0c664acad7aa" }, { "bytes": 6818, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8e80acdd58a21764838fc6abd0893a0a60b2beb311d95012b6827bfd0202275f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102717/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102717", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7347-85d8-364cfb2ec032" } 9lJcqH4eNCpIGI0j1zV+LQ5VYbLOhCXX5Wg6jqj9Y/8zt4NZ9PSw3NnUdtgI/b7TCMIE1zP8gc5UHcc3JZKQDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 9lJcqH4eNCpIGI0j1zV+LQ5VYbLOhCXX5Wg6jqj9Y/8zt4NZ9PSw3NnUdtgI/b7TCMIE1zP8gc5UHcc3JZKQDg== {"files":[{"bytes":16964,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2a95161edd1fbc450bb87487fde139c008584002f9cb2be2f24792c5cd54279f"},{"bytes":6944,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0401326473eb2a8fd436978a6ace4c56b49ec4fc57c83f590d8abdd7648b1cc0"},{"bytes":6608,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fbaafe414dd2543f41be4968005731e607902abe2b3d0adf32180c9e3b544929"},{"bytes":2798,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"064f84781e3629928950c527b4206db601f08c89c79c97c652bc90df1b4e61cf"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"df704f28bed1c697439efaacadd260b1055e20755756114a74596312b6b80a05"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0155a20747bd6a9c76a22eff8b3d36e5a4ef4581a85cfd1eb1a116c80fc42931"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102718"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102718
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102718

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
fbaafe414dd2543f41be4968005731e607902abe2b3d0adf32180c9e3b544929

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102718, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102718.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102718" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102718" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102718 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102718 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102718 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102718 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102718", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 933 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16964, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2a95161edd1fbc450bb87487fde139c008584002f9cb2be2f24792c5cd54279f" }, { "bytes": 6944, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0401326473eb2a8fd436978a6ace4c56b49ec4fc57c83f590d8abdd7648b1cc0" }, { "bytes": 6608, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fbaafe414dd2543f41be4968005731e607902abe2b3d0adf32180c9e3b544929" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102718/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102718", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-71da-abec-7473c2dcabdd" } g/8jCIfLPNkF80qTFP72GQDoqwmf63GvvqvsSG8GZH6zvjjKOKog5EtAUSwRqH6BEYbJJ5vOn09ZXlAn7RmWBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: g/8jCIfLPNkF80qTFP72GQDoqwmf63GvvqvsSG8GZH6zvjjKOKog5EtAUSwRqH6BEYbJJ5vOn09ZXlAn7RmWBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16185,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1d8aab7aa277fa76aae4cab6d2c6bda0656ae012d21b664e173474c32f399c6e"},{"bytes":6276,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d586ffb919a6bdf3ff4f9a68d7b855b83ad7a1ef887c7468c73a318f28414ad3"},{"bytes":5939,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"13d5921e20350f43df20ad30b4d4a2f2eaba9d3630e25d3ac9176227dbb2a257"},{"bytes":2806,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"10b8efd50a08dddb10ec91d5f688a3af0b1266ba5b046cf50d9210bc69c6b2ee"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c2b6c1f1ad4f7d0bfda1506a4c274913ef45d74601674d04528b2a2cbcae1ceb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"abfb4dc2e686f589c3238fc5751d113bb3e0f77ff92d1805e79ebf79a7b514f3"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102719"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102719
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102719

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
13d5921e20350f43df20ad30b4d4a2f2eaba9d3630e25d3ac9176227dbb2a257

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102719, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102719.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102719" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102719" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102719 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102719 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102719 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102719 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102719", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 825 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16185, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "1d8aab7aa277fa76aae4cab6d2c6bda0656ae012d21b664e173474c32f399c6e" }, { "bytes": 6276, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d586ffb919a6bdf3ff4f9a68d7b855b83ad7a1ef887c7468c73a318f28414ad3" }, { "bytes": 5939, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "13d5921e20350f43df20ad30b4d4a2f2eaba9d3630e25d3ac9176227dbb2a257" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102719/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102719", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-76a4-96f4-9d13e9164fcb" } D7/Zc8LO/wC3GFRZReoVKayUd4QMJAfMJcsok/w9VrWI9DkcIA1USECahguemlFNkEM6+JW+/rYFshhEX1bZCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: D7/Zc8LO/wC3GFRZReoVKayUd4QMJAfMJcsok/w9VrWI9DkcIA1USECahguemlFNkEM6+JW+/rYFshhEX1bZCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16987,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0d0f1c08d805b72ce161254e46a5a613b5679be509da3b0fde2eec0e5583dfb0"},{"bytes":6968,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"525217fb26df4ce3e7dd7df218c5057292058f5d4cd229c3688f55a94e9c5dda"},{"bytes":6628,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e8707d390fb3ce193f19aecfd8ba88c023740a3454e4a95684474f16e7f82362"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"e63a4c152bef3b2b54f803c78230e05cb4f8c2579a69f81277096fd853b6e48a"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ec658e44e169ecbcc5921fa0a11ec12e807f8ffe32d3d4bcf3f81fadd5aba824"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"26d36688b74a62cd50ca14d9fc284505ee0b3b62e05368947a8c0d5adab5d541"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102720"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102720
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102720

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
e8707d390fb3ce193f19aecfd8ba88c023740a3454e4a95684474f16e7f82362

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102720, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102720.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102720" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102720" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102720 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102720 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102720 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102720 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102720", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 931 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16987, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0d0f1c08d805b72ce161254e46a5a613b5679be509da3b0fde2eec0e5583dfb0" }, { "bytes": 6968, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "525217fb26df4ce3e7dd7df218c5057292058f5d4cd229c3688f55a94e9c5dda" }, { "bytes": 6628, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e8707d390fb3ce193f19aecfd8ba88c023740a3454e4a95684474f16e7f82362" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102720/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102720", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-766a-b055-e2454bbf64b5" } S2bkefXLMPilMIknuT9tKy36C8VpfbG23s8p6/noEi5bXwoZO64UrJwYsdqQopqDiP5h+eoEBaqBRoFfInzvBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: S2bkefXLMPilMIknuT9tKy36C8VpfbG23s8p6/noEi5bXwoZO64UrJwYsdqQopqDiP5h+eoEBaqBRoFfInzvBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16734,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0023bc3d4b25488781440a665092e5b5a71ec7aadecd3a9b92d5cbd8adba38eb"},{"bytes":6758,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9b5c616b65677d1592ff417386859d782d19771f47610fd9805701ec7b78f645"},{"bytes":6418,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fd3b818b8141edb076ea56f86f7968cb6dbe75398f342bff47eec2bc8595bc25"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"03a0e3e9f3f674605c0018b74f4532370debcf80f7357300757ee8fea6c63151"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9a166cd13a91058e91557681ac3df14cff87a71a96a1e9df56fef9d12ee90003"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"3b1122c33b01973875918bad9e06442dc61a4a4c844e2ebddd7f7ffe2a231b1e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102721"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102721
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102721

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
fd3b818b8141edb076ea56f86f7968cb6dbe75398f342bff47eec2bc8595bc25

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102721, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102721.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102721" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102721" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102721 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102721 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102721 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102721 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102721", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 896 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16734, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0023bc3d4b25488781440a665092e5b5a71ec7aadecd3a9b92d5cbd8adba38eb" }, { "bytes": 6758, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9b5c616b65677d1592ff417386859d782d19771f47610fd9805701ec7b78f645" }, { "bytes": 6418, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fd3b818b8141edb076ea56f86f7968cb6dbe75398f342bff47eec2bc8595bc25" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102721/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102721", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7194-bcb1-aebae201403e" } 9HruV/1I7MhcXyoVNAe1lHCel4Y/CXqw0mJHGxoy7LKO/Wq0g1a8qKmAAX8U0go0hM936z7EHvTAzbsyFBg4Bw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 9HruV/1I7MhcXyoVNAe1lHCel4Y/CXqw0mJHGxoy7LKO/Wq0g1a8qKmAAX8U0go0hM936z7EHvTAzbsyFBg4Bw== {"files":[{"bytes":16185,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6ee09ca83af51ed619260a7a6ede54d9fbeb3b799ddf337b3bea33b0263a5e14"},{"bytes":6276,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a9d021935b054aedead5e02482d5a019072fc5a1ced5ab74ce04520e6a71d3c7"},{"bytes":5939,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ec0bc4c6a7e5bd4d16b21ceb0478472881dfddf3aeaaeafcf685c004d8fd64f7"},{"bytes":2806,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"89643cc05fa781e5a6ba97a4fe263b7f6ae5fa8e7a0c32e048af99169f254306"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0b630b70172ab87af0b33f06bc0d8d42b6c06cea57e1e8fd29a58d98519bf5ae"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6a7fbe05ab27ce1bcd6fe96de2077591d0cc10de6d3df7702c6558e5a6707a72"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102722"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102722
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102722

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ec0bc4c6a7e5bd4d16b21ceb0478472881dfddf3aeaaeafcf685c004d8fd64f7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0024]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102722, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102722.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102722" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102722" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102722 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102722 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0024] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102722 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102722 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102722", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 24, "words": 825 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16185, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6ee09ca83af51ed619260a7a6ede54d9fbeb3b799ddf337b3bea33b0263a5e14" }, { "bytes": 6276, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a9d021935b054aedead5e02482d5a019072fc5a1ced5ab74ce04520e6a71d3c7" }, { "bytes": 5939, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ec0bc4c6a7e5bd4d16b21ceb0478472881dfddf3aeaaeafcf685c004d8fd64f7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102722/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102722", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7b35-8506-13b0c6ddac94" } 6FDIi/ftS3E7K8jDgg8QUQCJIbPXzZ/AWQANkCZQY1HGttZ5lRZ4WHpd5XPPQQqFBaxUq9rLR2tLgBPGH8Q4AA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 6FDIi/ftS3E7K8jDgg8QUQCJIbPXzZ/AWQANkCZQY1HGttZ5lRZ4WHpd5XPPQQqFBaxUq9rLR2tLgBPGH8Q4AA== {"files":[{"bytes":16987,"name":"index.html","sha256":"572949a0444458821a10bafede4f9c6041fac775339c3e29687d35d40867c33a"},{"bytes":6968,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c4071c21fef4ec5a052adcebb05981a871de638b5accc5a3592860a52db44082"},{"bytes":6628,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"826251c76fad0aa0cb3bc1033157487bf6575d6452c6d9d0b64a2b758eff45e0"},{"bytes":2815,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d510faf31284d0101cd3f15b3c51ed0051bea368786ff342fff38c697317ce7b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d85a09ab2ab0b56bf918bde476a9be7b14f76de93a905e0d59cffd406741ee52"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b19fee7168a03617d429781abb81a9138e3e3820fe974d7d21c0d6b185436da1"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102723"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102723
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102723

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
826251c76fad0aa0cb3bc1033157487bf6575d6452c6d9d0b64a2b758eff45e0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102723, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102723.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102723" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102723" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102723 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102723 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102723 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102723 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102724

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
59b95958f2f40ed916b18a35dc6f322acb0f329fd5a73cd3688b884ae1b48e69

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0016]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0017]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0018]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0019]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0020]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0021]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0022]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0023]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0024]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102724, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102724.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102724" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102724" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102724 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102724 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0016] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0017] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0018] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0019] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0020] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0021] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0022] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0023] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0024] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102724 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102724 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102724", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 896 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16734, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4091edb6e876f4a320f33c4c3ca61d6a41bb75f75de13c6cf642c641629f8bc6" }, { "bytes": 6758, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "139acecf0ffed70de82224faa85a099668e15010aa78c012e1dbda06829c2076" }, { "bytes": 6418, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "59b95958f2f40ed916b18a35dc6f322acb0f329fd5a73cd3688b884ae1b48e69" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102724/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102724", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7e85-9d95-dfd645924b7c" } ZxkqAcCZ+NUwdnWWMT5e57Jor1MWwAAdOOn6YriemFyhyPg4oJADtCFeboJwoOVWQGVTde9jdL1UAh48NX3sDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: ZxkqAcCZ+NUwdnWWMT5e57Jor1MWwAAdOOn6YriemFyhyPg4oJADtCFeboJwoOVWQGVTde9jdL1UAh48NX3sDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16260,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3e3c0e7f369df2cb8aa360655eb3ac9c4708d5ba4e15e470f26831fdf6686067"},{"bytes":6291,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"831bdaa2484132c30f1f5bc104d873cffad09a3d4ea25227e09c6a2d5e4f2364"},{"bytes":5974,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b2993dfabc8c1ab4e4024db9a7c1467664702cfa416f780760d849318815a02f"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5a5c59e572d038d5c153b9d220b128c5d0b57de6cd7e0209e7329afd41194668"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0949fe4bbaf225b043148657d982047c078966e8ba797b567b375bb13fe63bc1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bdfe7b1ceafa748e0ffbc146052cb464bd17acd53fbe53987f431fff529091db"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102725"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102725
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102725

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
b2993dfabc8c1ab4e4024db9a7c1467664702cfa416f780760d849318815a02f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102725, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102725.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102725" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102725" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102725 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102725 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102725 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102725 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102725", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16260, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3e3c0e7f369df2cb8aa360655eb3ac9c4708d5ba4e15e470f26831fdf6686067" }, { "bytes": 6291, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "831bdaa2484132c30f1f5bc104d873cffad09a3d4ea25227e09c6a2d5e4f2364" }, { "bytes": 5974, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b2993dfabc8c1ab4e4024db9a7c1467664702cfa416f780760d849318815a02f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102725/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102725", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7e83-9ebb-82cc1a0c7028" } xhg2ETugSVAy0I4pbscyjG6b2dfp5d4g/UP1YvS2UY2zDm3wNuGR9zf/ABDB2T13tM8KEGG5ggl79BBMc5EEDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: xhg2ETugSVAy0I4pbscyjG6b2dfp5d4g/UP1YvS2UY2zDm3wNuGR9zf/ABDB2T13tM8KEGG5ggl79BBMc5EEDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17068,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0c27b708bf1df2a7a74d91a1116183769d22f5b972928dddf33c93714be6ecb0"},{"bytes":6989,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9d57ee5015b69a2239edf966295d1539363b23d9ff1d7d116a8ab05c104d44f8"},{"bytes":6669,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6a5f23c5f0ca9e2970d7399d041d9e65c66cb3ec951e900434ef3d25bf34ed50"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"46171b4a87f8911f8072de2c55eb841319a6a69eca1f3db0b9173e3b6398356d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f3e2cafcc1fd0e0e4157063b9e8076702736057f293fd0b181af78c9882d1c19"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"db3f639c82e8a12855f26758b05dd0d529cd65ee7802e2e1f373bf9f86a4bafa"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102726"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102726
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102726

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6a5f23c5f0ca9e2970d7399d041d9e65c66cb3ec951e900434ef3d25bf34ed50

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102726, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102726.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102726" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102726" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102726 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102726 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102726 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102726 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102726", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17068, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0c27b708bf1df2a7a74d91a1116183769d22f5b972928dddf33c93714be6ecb0" }, { "bytes": 6989, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9d57ee5015b69a2239edf966295d1539363b23d9ff1d7d116a8ab05c104d44f8" }, { "bytes": 6669, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6a5f23c5f0ca9e2970d7399d041d9e65c66cb3ec951e900434ef3d25bf34ed50" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102726/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102726", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-775e-8d77-9b7ca38ed643" } aHteIyNjo5NkV1n9plXCxQYYTqENHX48c+b9ZcdmsvU8qxp4i7oxjv8XRHkN1XWebA6PEY2K/ah/gLCRPIeCBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: aHteIyNjo5NkV1n9plXCxQYYTqENHX48c+b9ZcdmsvU8qxp4i7oxjv8XRHkN1XWebA6PEY2K/ah/gLCRPIeCBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16815,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cdf967f482cbba6271d85be2a8703b65a0b02a28f23cadbd5cca915bbbd0ed14"},{"bytes":6779,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"655f7157360c33fc36a813a7790bebc0fcb062b2b677056ce88dd47b5925a055"},{"bytes":6459,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7b6ab08814b83f9b6e49e4d21ed21fd59218485a581f45c171d4d8d239ec9d4e"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9599d6880121fabe61d95a8bced7d86aff7219f0efb9ab2f0a9695cb3ccccdd2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6fd6303e9570ceea5438874bcd4f803a4d0bc6e0504e7510d0d88d193e847129"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1fe7ac4dcf9a9521b09e3f4134203eb2372505e6d7e498b1b1d9f142cd7ca727"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102727"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102727
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102727

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7b6ab08814b83f9b6e49e4d21ed21fd59218485a581f45c171d4d8d239ec9d4e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102727, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102727.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102727" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102727" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102727 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102727 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102727 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102727 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102727", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16815, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cdf967f482cbba6271d85be2a8703b65a0b02a28f23cadbd5cca915bbbd0ed14" }, { "bytes": 6779, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "655f7157360c33fc36a813a7790bebc0fcb062b2b677056ce88dd47b5925a055" }, { "bytes": 6459, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7b6ab08814b83f9b6e49e4d21ed21fd59218485a581f45c171d4d8d239ec9d4e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102727/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102727", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858b-7fb1-a9a5-08c436d97c21" } +261HWUwMxyOzVgMrZYHAdyWA7ujewWxGeHYHPaNtImKy1BkpaFaAMs/sCYshunQCOHWm6SLTltX628zM1FQAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +261HWUwMxyOzVgMrZYHAdyWA7ujewWxGeHYHPaNtImKy1BkpaFaAMs/sCYshunQCOHWm6SLTltX628zM1FQAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16261,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c88f3933cd6421c8b85289ac0165470422d2db28776b77c0aab6cf59f09a8c2a"},{"bytes":6292,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a14fc7fab4299d9f59bc14c4aa52f650b59078135a8de4b8522e0fcd05f44dfe"},{"bytes":5975,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a5ff7ba10049db2cd72b88de48c9cabf3a99ffd30f98660188635b0d385b8a9a"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2194883b387d2020844b759f9fff722ba7bd0049483374b181c38bdbf68d3894"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"54db8b579d2c15ffb89e6753aca69d9babe2bdcdf5f98d02eb26099d2c571d7c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1c0b03947d5797516d7e73864ae7d93888dda18d1a87f648f654c4b530316875"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102728"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102728
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102728

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
a5ff7ba10049db2cd72b88de48c9cabf3a99ffd30f98660188635b0d385b8a9a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102728, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102728.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102728" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102728" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102728 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102728 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102728 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102728 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102729

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
dae54e488b149479bba304bde1d7fb1c98a5be2da6d148a4e627bd7b597674db

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102729, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102729.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102729" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102729" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102729 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102729 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102729 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102729 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102729", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17069, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5c7b7fcedf8423ca6b4c05f928e26759196d595ada0b9de8d789b918f63c77a3" }, { "bytes": 6990, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "df44490063978d5c65140c4ab34f24940a08d4cbba26a80d30772c3a2d2cb504" }, { "bytes": 6670, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "dae54e488b149479bba304bde1d7fb1c98a5be2da6d148a4e627bd7b597674db" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102729/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102729", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7119-9e5a-a056379b0700" } SWBRKUZx7VcVZqhpX4wWFZ95u58fIJINk1+/arw8MlU498ca3UU/fZq9LhPmEU/QNmg/Erlbf0DHDO1HwBuoDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: SWBRKUZx7VcVZqhpX4wWFZ95u58fIJINk1+/arw8MlU498ca3UU/fZq9LhPmEU/QNmg/Erlbf0DHDO1HwBuoDg== {"files":[{"bytes":16816,"name":"index.html","sha256":"bc0a476e9e13b09752c3a0f02dfacdaaedd40e6aef768863a86778106f630f8c"},{"bytes":6780,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"02c8c2e7e4a6c7e1c5e0c935473c51324b5fca234a5c9c4db5b92632d887e185"},{"bytes":6460,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e5494cd222703e537e5d8da2a9aa8c57889dc47afd05e57283c65abc3ce7dfde"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ea1f6a43d893d1d56264b713806bb82e2c0e27301eabe73dda50480c38d4fd7e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"49ac977e5f9283e0f8b1b8e756416ba13ac8646cd554251fbcdd3f35d48e045a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cc9024be1b28953f8ddd9b92432e9aa4927110f111ae492840341359e6ed3d93"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102730"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102730
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102730

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
e5494cd222703e537e5d8da2a9aa8c57889dc47afd05e57283c65abc3ce7dfde

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102730, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102730.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102730" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102730" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102730 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102730 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102730 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102730 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102730", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 908 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16816, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "bc0a476e9e13b09752c3a0f02dfacdaaedd40e6aef768863a86778106f630f8c" }, { "bytes": 6780, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "02c8c2e7e4a6c7e1c5e0c935473c51324b5fca234a5c9c4db5b92632d887e185" }, { "bytes": 6460, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e5494cd222703e537e5d8da2a9aa8c57889dc47afd05e57283c65abc3ce7dfde" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102730/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102730", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-79da-bcbf-a6d5b94d94ec" } B+xO8jV+imdNmt1b0YtYYLldpMx0qzLDPH+NhSsGUvCnjG7CuQSK+X72YP5xleKs3CesI30urMYHt05pPipzAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: B+xO8jV+imdNmt1b0YtYYLldpMx0qzLDPH+NhSsGUvCnjG7CuQSK+X72YP5xleKs3CesI30urMYHt05pPipzAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16265,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7e10aa0982fecc94de0445a837a93f8ee30465cc85d9773f8b414641d05b94a1"},{"bytes":6296,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"61ef28f04c1c79b3262366cec9c07e8381b37caea67a37f5294cc3a9ef89b49d"},{"bytes":5979,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4a45a0eb5034d26d0acbc9066cf70ff345f2c9615b3cda600697b9f4ae4b0482"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"d5804f302939aa825153b5c3e46d55636eab9133f598dcc1314a894ea615f738"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"649aa450cd21aafe0f2c4e46eddba37deb44a8f9cc68f58f773ac5f5aecb7ddb"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"23007a4938c25b0203b0ec7ee7f639cabe1dc212739e8f1fc8b9f2d64a154b11"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102731"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102731
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102731

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
4a45a0eb5034d26d0acbc9066cf70ff345f2c9615b3cda600697b9f4ae4b0482

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102731, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102731.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102731" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102731" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102731 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102731 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102731 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102731 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102731", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 837 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16265, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7e10aa0982fecc94de0445a837a93f8ee30465cc85d9773f8b414641d05b94a1" }, { "bytes": 6296, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "61ef28f04c1c79b3262366cec9c07e8381b37caea67a37f5294cc3a9ef89b49d" }, { "bytes": 5979, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4a45a0eb5034d26d0acbc9066cf70ff345f2c9615b3cda600697b9f4ae4b0482" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102731/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102731", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-797a-8647-7c974986b52d" } 1NaOnwBINSYl2tLyJ+dPmrOOn/lExSm1UUmSBFSgNudpCfvHomPYFTeWEi2tuAo1aRE8Jp5C3jUH9x5gCO+QAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 1NaOnwBINSYl2tLyJ+dPmrOOn/lExSm1UUmSBFSgNudpCfvHomPYFTeWEi2tuAo1aRE8Jp5C3jUH9x5gCO+QAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17073,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e90cb14f6cb7f70eb214af388e8b25f4a6a4988b2e608161d5e5003d0d2f7419"},{"bytes":6994,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5a9d1b7c0e43028479288ceae7ae97e61ceb148c7c27cec23fb9b736c559834f"},{"bytes":6674,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5bc8df6d461de35eeacbc922589716b7c9b627c3604c8f4df160bc4880ae4e03"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5142b6534521fc28740e79f8388d250bffbc24741ff10d3a0ff281e531d69549"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"de22b446650102d79dc5b35df066712a761e656c15aa7bd37d9bf995d84a9af6"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ceb3ff0dd56ff7d3567123fde909c8fa7c944b108f1f61ce06d58fab74334838"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102732"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102732
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102732

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
5bc8df6d461de35eeacbc922589716b7c9b627c3604c8f4df160bc4880ae4e03

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102732, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102732.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102732" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102732" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102732 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102732 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102732 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102732 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102732", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 943 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17073, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e90cb14f6cb7f70eb214af388e8b25f4a6a4988b2e608161d5e5003d0d2f7419" }, { "bytes": 6994, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5a9d1b7c0e43028479288ceae7ae97e61ceb148c7c27cec23fb9b736c559834f" }, { "bytes": 6674, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "5bc8df6d461de35eeacbc922589716b7c9b627c3604c8f4df160bc4880ae4e03" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102732/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102732", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7446-b708-1446327e1e2b" } ZlFbw/+UlOzC2Ob/h4U4+J8Pe5Bt6P7+SlUv/8Pt8xVU+mpz6J6Sob1nqMQBwo+vw3jPdje8ntoR8UKNrGrSBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: ZlFbw/+UlOzC2Ob/h4U4+J8Pe5Bt6P7+SlUv/8Pt8xVU+mpz6J6Sob1nqMQBwo+vw3jPdje8ntoR8UKNrGrSBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16820,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4d5f46644b19ff8702f65d100979c55bd2034293e012bfd2242410d67aff7326"},{"bytes":6784,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"44ffcc821fc9a0c3112f40261219ca1fca32b4f28ee455d0d4e969bfec600156"},{"bytes":6464,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5b2210c2806626cca959b631b427682b663f64a631674e870cb815f64080f9e7"},{"bytes":2771,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"53f3582917ad0a9646758c32f39eff0e9f46e05304d867df8d11c656356a9d59"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d3f98ac03e9e20a103838bca258cd1ec2397c2f36b794998d00d0fc24c105a05"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"a2c5f2f2830db736212f61e1c345a6b53f425c9d528acb1df3d56ee07e70f12e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102733"} Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102733
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102733

Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
5b2210c2806626cca959b631b427682b663f64a631674e870cb815f64080f9e7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102733, “Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102733.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102733" title: "Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102733" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102733 Three bellows cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102733 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102733 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102733 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102734

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
aedecbfd706c21b77db9d831ae7da9ab8d6446f19d5f5992c01dd84dea1d2bde

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102734, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102734.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102734" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102734" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102734 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102734 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102734 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102734 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102735

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
318683c09194bc197c96e05720661400dc150eaf49772153344c3ef9fd789ac1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102735, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102735.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102735" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102735" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102735 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102735 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102735 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102735 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102735", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 983 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17246, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9b4017dc1f4cf0fbd0ba3018e760b47b8781eb819ced01c41d2fe27d800ae9d9" }, { "bytes": 7139, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2383b5418054263f40b726034362d9cbdd1eff2972bcb75b21b04bfe2106266f" }, { "bytes": 6831, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "318683c09194bc197c96e05720661400dc150eaf49772153344c3ef9fd789ac1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102735/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102735", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-74f8-94f2-eadfa09768bf" } 6QAjpFxokseNgm7wRa2jwzymqmaf5gAJhSfUKn/YswStucjq/KY3jKkvm2fmGDE6GDdbimQGfhMduuwsOJIlCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 6QAjpFxokseNgm7wRa2jwzymqmaf5gAJhSfUKn/YswStucjq/KY3jKkvm2fmGDE6GDdbimQGfhMduuwsOJIlCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16993,"name":"index.html","sha256":"18d7bea66155e2198ddb38f53fee0d83b65010658110d036a8b1b0a3f71e759f"},{"bytes":6929,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d42b5ce3445c66568f05f203f53d7cc435edc85e20ccddb0a581d316588a192b"},{"bytes":6621,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1c7e0ff2ef885800dd5b66605a7835848e5dd6224890f5ee828bb17121bd4a9c"},{"bytes":2746,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cada2c1a160106b103274511bf40a25e051ac23b741a6c5e8db3d0db1b8ea755"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6e0ff3bf9bf1e52d3444342ee1782829f963401752d513ffe95b14603d60bdff"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ab87dcf6ca08f4b4e2f1fdbb582f8e0052dd5c98206a898542dfd410df0ac2a2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102736"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102736
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102736

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
1c7e0ff2ef885800dd5b66605a7835848e5dd6224890f5ee828bb17121bd4a9c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102736, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102736.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102736" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102736" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102736 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102736 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102736 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102736 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102736", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 948 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16993, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "18d7bea66155e2198ddb38f53fee0d83b65010658110d036a8b1b0a3f71e759f" }, { "bytes": 6929, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d42b5ce3445c66568f05f203f53d7cc435edc85e20ccddb0a581d316588a192b" }, { "bytes": 6621, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1c7e0ff2ef885800dd5b66605a7835848e5dd6224890f5ee828bb17121bd4a9c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102736/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102736", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-743e-9e33-5335b43e352f" } OgvWXIK9f3f7og+3XkFDvf8it3usdqU6PaLfxNA6DB0Ti65Vpie7mpbn0HoalDABgGxw1fIj1ipIF9F8muZ2Dg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: OgvWXIK9f3f7og+3XkFDvf8it3usdqU6PaLfxNA6DB0Ti65Vpie7mpbn0HoalDABgGxw1fIj1ipIF9F8muZ2Dg== {"files":[{"bytes":16384,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e2bfcbc78b0d213e7607b70a1407d4bb3f3e2c0e58cd247927a51840d56dfbb5"},{"bytes":6387,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"14af3b6f661d082a348b127ac5bf260ac1f4ab75f77975dd71dec76880ba901d"},{"bytes":6082,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2a0eeebf2bcfd555a0c0bc447108d29da252f4858138be781fc8b9cfeffcdb01"},{"bytes":2737,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1393724245f73bd373f5263ca8e15f64c9c9a8f0dc6351a88000b73b62549ddc"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9edaa3d10f98bb97a154bf42ca928d6d48798ddb5f598e38b4de6848ebc87f92"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5f18dae4232bd22d6736f87d4b1a3c4b4ac3809735ad78765af21018614c55d9"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102737"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102737
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102737

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2a0eeebf2bcfd555a0c0bc447108d29da252f4858138be781fc8b9cfeffcdb01

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102737, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102737.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102737" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102737" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102737 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102737 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102737 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102737 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102737", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 862 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16384, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e2bfcbc78b0d213e7607b70a1407d4bb3f3e2c0e58cd247927a51840d56dfbb5" }, { "bytes": 6387, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "14af3b6f661d082a348b127ac5bf260ac1f4ab75f77975dd71dec76880ba901d" }, { "bytes": 6082, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2a0eeebf2bcfd555a0c0bc447108d29da252f4858138be781fc8b9cfeffcdb01" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102737/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102737", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7b81-9be8-045eef9c0e09" } jPnOD4rfjtAxOmimOI0skbIuFLoApxaTxrdY6HyX/WSqzMCnAycuhg0+LT1nxDmBDN8ec6e4G3dw6gUcAGPGAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: jPnOD4rfjtAxOmimOI0skbIuFLoApxaTxrdY6HyX/WSqzMCnAycuhg0+LT1nxDmBDN8ec6e4G3dw6gUcAGPGAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17192,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4168697cad4174db02040670cf3562d6591861561a6170bb88516af16ffef7a2"},{"bytes":7085,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"26e78212a23ab3e2472144102221a1139f81ae9b57773600676990c48d6d606e"},{"bytes":6777,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8dac8adc6fce260b7ea8ef02e84bb5fc192a78bf48ccb97c9b732ad5a3f2e71f"},{"bytes":2746,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2f73f81495ce6464cf32dc0cfb9b804aaf9814baf5981586bc2e921ec9600bec"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"04f9cea936fb9a39ad789128bf85376277ed11c8bcd0777e2820bd799de1274d"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"58eb377a3aaa515e062c6a19885ed947bb32e0ae2e6d93c5ae58ab6d666fc4a9"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102738"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102738
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102738

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8dac8adc6fce260b7ea8ef02e84bb5fc192a78bf48ccb97c9b732ad5a3f2e71f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102738, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102738.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102738" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102738" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102738 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102738 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102738 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102738 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102739

Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7f707edbbca344d4b305b4bacb9c27772c812d35b633cd795fef2b0ea69df8e1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102739, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102739.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102739" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102739" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102739 Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102739 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102739 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102739 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102739", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 933 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16939, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "387c9818e04a91f1e6249c1a282e9c775bfaff09dfc8fa8c5e795223206f2aae" }, { "bytes": 6875, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "a9492b46407b886e5e32a8f0c65ba440d31015e9a0bff154d682d78694a29ed6" }, { "bytes": 6567, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7f707edbbca344d4b305b4bacb9c27772c812d35b633cd795fef2b0ea69df8e1" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102739/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102739", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-79c4-b824-99a38910944b" } hSdlQv5INygqKfx5KR5nGjs7Fi3e9wvRveFoiUnDECzBY4/SikO8QV9Q4rvuhMaHM97C0L1JW3FrK4Rcr0gSDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: hSdlQv5INygqKfx5KR5nGjs7Fi3e9wvRveFoiUnDECzBY4/SikO8QV9Q4rvuhMaHM97C0L1JW3FrK4Rcr0gSDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16154,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ac95b56630cc38e2707d7643355a75a045b9f4303893fb1789deee016e4562de"},{"bytes":6201,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"490675e8bdf2db699d704eeefa0ef76ee7356fd8177623912513c7ffd77414cc"},{"bytes":5892,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fed936bb7d0c4f5b32598bad8bb6493c1888c6e5c60c8aa77b52aef108a89946"},{"bytes":2754,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7f80fb77072dd20e0cba7bc8f6823a8e1f7eb82dbab073627e02400a776ceddf"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b7f78806b71831c06ed8ffd0c69b04eded1a43dcf2f75ee01cb0f5190561f853"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6994679a7907f83436f71ee3aa52ed9687b699d3c091530d992499f6d7d468a7"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102740"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102740
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102740

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
fed936bb7d0c4f5b32598bad8bb6493c1888c6e5c60c8aa77b52aef108a89946

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102740, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102740.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102740" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102740" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102740 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102740 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102740 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102740 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102740", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 825 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16154, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ac95b56630cc38e2707d7643355a75a045b9f4303893fb1789deee016e4562de" }, { "bytes": 6201, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "490675e8bdf2db699d704eeefa0ef76ee7356fd8177623912513c7ffd77414cc" }, { "bytes": 5892, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "fed936bb7d0c4f5b32598bad8bb6493c1888c6e5c60c8aa77b52aef108a89946" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102740/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102740", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-781d-8cc8-ba0228a82b53" } FIe/4KLIj4/HudkzJj1DMGXt9yNPiGarnruIzVJm+x1WTQxABleTPDrRe9Q0pWffGKKu8JQbn/8qBNiPmyz1Cg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: FIe/4KLIj4/HudkzJj1DMGXt9yNPiGarnruIzVJm+x1WTQxABleTPDrRe9Q0pWffGKKu8JQbn/8qBNiPmyz1Cg== {"files":[{"bytes":16962,"name":"index.html","sha256":"545eabef6ffe8b2d7218e451c8dc4689895cfad157cbec0fef92faf89a9069b2"},{"bytes":6899,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2f4b3393bb5f366516ec37e905d5a54272277c6c01effc32669f47eb69547419"},{"bytes":6587,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6d3ff21ea7829f733aad64dab4242570c2251a15cd087cd7c63eba42bbe28a37"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"66594a4db9cc5cdb76a8c3a2120fe8c1c1631d0c09dc720cde9b1f24b5bdd914"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"39bdee05cf51e9918d4347ddcec3ef0fd72e9ac61ba2b0453115048b551f3980"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"23da435bc8458fb7b7e38cacc9f0f13725374a3d1132b6dc38ad3f51bb01c2ec"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102741"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102741
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102741

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6d3ff21ea7829f733aad64dab4242570c2251a15cd087cd7c63eba42bbe28a37

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102741, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102741.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102741" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102741" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102741 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102741 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102741 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102741 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102741", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 931 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16962, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "545eabef6ffe8b2d7218e451c8dc4689895cfad157cbec0fef92faf89a9069b2" }, { "bytes": 6899, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2f4b3393bb5f366516ec37e905d5a54272277c6c01effc32669f47eb69547419" }, { "bytes": 6587, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6d3ff21ea7829f733aad64dab4242570c2251a15cd087cd7c63eba42bbe28a37" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102741/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102741", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7f53-bb34-af5957154d17" } /O8EwvNmq2o51Czn9UFjfJQLImp9Bxcid1AA9XaoMEP7JTgK+R6KHPa6IZJiq6vSAJKcNLjjWtE33y59rsULCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: /O8EwvNmq2o51Czn9UFjfJQLImp9Bxcid1AA9XaoMEP7JTgK+R6KHPa6IZJiq6vSAJKcNLjjWtE33y59rsULCw== {"files":[{"bytes":16709,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0fe70dbe51e9b533a74174a744ab0101bbcbc9c171a9d15f825f9cdc5503a02d"},{"bytes":6689,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3836b08caf1ba5c67e87a8fb25f2b2c28fdc61d31e24f6b1697fd72492be7cd2"},{"bytes":6377,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"20e1c858a0f0dfeb57023b12093f638beeff1ba93990dbd398cedaecf9910f0f"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"499b02825bad2694b901cafcae8824c8731c845137a08ca2332703db1e807c68"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b256511b181b9a3869ce09d2d195c3f656a61abf3d2913b95a0895796132d679"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"15536ebbfd0772f0293ffe4e7dd0e9eae928bd4b04571bd91b13d07fc0578e7f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102742"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102742
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102742

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
20e1c858a0f0dfeb57023b12093f638beeff1ba93990dbd398cedaecf9910f0f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102742, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102742.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102742" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102742" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102742 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102742 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102742 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102742 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102742", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 896 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16709, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0fe70dbe51e9b533a74174a744ab0101bbcbc9c171a9d15f825f9cdc5503a02d" }, { "bytes": 6689, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3836b08caf1ba5c67e87a8fb25f2b2c28fdc61d31e24f6b1697fd72492be7cd2" }, { "bytes": 6377, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "20e1c858a0f0dfeb57023b12093f638beeff1ba93990dbd398cedaecf9910f0f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102742/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102742", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-76a3-adbd-a7a65e96f3fa" } s0Z5oNZ+GzfG/E5pnXdf8o85rVxlBMMiKmDszF11R80egUgQbOSxmeo73YXTd9akAgIf86FfcnDVhZMGjjuiAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: s0Z5oNZ+GzfG/E5pnXdf8o85rVxlBMMiKmDszF11R80egUgQbOSxmeo73YXTd9akAgIf86FfcnDVhZMGjjuiAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16154,"name":"index.html","sha256":"042cdb64ad6041e33c34351fe5bcddc7b0cf881ae979fabef6320c5af8c534d5"},{"bytes":6201,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6f15c2c36cf28c63e05617d21d064f249531d7ec85b0dcd20aad7e5760cf87ed"},{"bytes":5892,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2fbb561b48dc2f60a57d0abe4cd59fe394b9d1f69c20bc6f946dbfa1ea286335"},{"bytes":2754,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b9d7968ed77d8ebdf996e7b8135794f9deb8c98dfde2d96bbf2ddd9dbb28fc38"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"aedbb6e8249b18f2e81ac7b40603444ad2779ce915a54bbd78f8eab345fa524c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"eb33e74a0d14de87695acc79a8de3217f6d8f813e5ad9ac58c8c0662bd773e0d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102743"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102743
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102743

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2fbb561b48dc2f60a57d0abe4cd59fe394b9d1f69c20bc6f946dbfa1ea286335

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102743, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102743.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102743" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102743" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102743 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102743 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102743 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102743 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102743", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 825 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16154, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "042cdb64ad6041e33c34351fe5bcddc7b0cf881ae979fabef6320c5af8c534d5" }, { "bytes": 6201, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6f15c2c36cf28c63e05617d21d064f249531d7ec85b0dcd20aad7e5760cf87ed" }, { "bytes": 5892, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2fbb561b48dc2f60a57d0abe4cd59fe394b9d1f69c20bc6f946dbfa1ea286335" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102743/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102743", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-777b-b263-fa9efd1d4d33" } NX/svUDa5ZZ0T+SzDBBkF6FvLINLrhIo4uNCHoG3Cm/W5GTQeJ4tObPJhj+7yZQc6NGn5rQq3A6uCSx8RtgtAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: NX/svUDa5ZZ0T+SzDBBkF6FvLINLrhIo4uNCHoG3Cm/W5GTQeJ4tObPJhj+7yZQc6NGn5rQq3A6uCSx8RtgtAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16962,"name":"index.html","sha256":"13f328fc063b6eec385fe0da73999799b98952647cc7d43aa56b16dd2332418d"},{"bytes":6899,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5c377c5924a410d136f720b79e732d2acfd8b689b0f5983786d167c1d2f2d8b8"},{"bytes":6587,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"1523fd10098f9e8a14c4fac5488b9771775a73547efd5fae689e2bcc8e5a3ab0"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ffa23afea94d4fcbc6592d1952cec6a143846d6b13a33b30166c3346c0eff5fd"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"18f0cd15a11709d95bfb92a5a63f32d39a9eb14fe3f8d0d9cfc41f46e0eb6767"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7971f3c10deebe0feed5bf269d323c1a7ce71498f1a2d9f81fd4caf9f1f28408"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102744"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102744
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102744

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
1523fd10098f9e8a14c4fac5488b9771775a73547efd5fae689e2bcc8e5a3ab0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102744, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102744.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102744" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102744" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102744 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102744 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102744 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102744 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102744", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 931 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16962, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "13f328fc063b6eec385fe0da73999799b98952647cc7d43aa56b16dd2332418d" }, { "bytes": 6899, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5c377c5924a410d136f720b79e732d2acfd8b689b0f5983786d167c1d2f2d8b8" }, { "bytes": 6587, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "1523fd10098f9e8a14c4fac5488b9771775a73547efd5fae689e2bcc8e5a3ab0" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102744/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102744", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7cf7-8321-bcdff476c19e" } kontM70MN/+aK1KbLhAJaxcDh7vqxIRofIHl7tAW68Dg6Cb3SZGXnkvdVWuj3mtLimU+qkUXuFkCT8nLwisPBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: kontM70MN/+aK1KbLhAJaxcDh7vqxIRofIHl7tAW68Dg6Cb3SZGXnkvdVWuj3mtLimU+qkUXuFkCT8nLwisPBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16709,"name":"index.html","sha256":"983dc16efa41c728770e2a268fc4310c91864a0fe93ac78e7a4a7206c6509f45"},{"bytes":6689,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"0fbb573aada818f87c6283066eaaf46b2880877e9aee83b5d2d8e50b201ca22a"},{"bytes":6377,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"308f0e2b824da785d51b7e888e92539ab306fb38805b81ea415119255284f3d5"},{"bytes":2763,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5df46ed4e3a65ce0aea553f2e9e31fb191c8ec64a103e1ce806cae770a22c9a9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c7dc4d1d64c152484b447a23d4b759259f1fd93bc30297df7f6fccd51a7ec3ff"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b5f359da3492d107d3161d217c1ac656b8617ff3fa7aa09a2f37d16bc243c8b2"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102745"} Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102745
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102745

Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
308f0e2b824da785d51b7e888e92539ab306fb38805b81ea415119255284f3d5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets.

[0006]Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102745, “Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102745.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102745" title: "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102745" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Three suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] **Three zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102745 Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102745 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: three suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Three suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has three outlets. [0006] Three zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of three follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into three zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the three zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: three (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: three (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102745 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102745 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, three suction cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, three zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102745", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 896 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16709, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "983dc16efa41c728770e2a268fc4310c91864a0fe93ac78e7a4a7206c6509f45" }, { "bytes": 6689, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "0fbb573aada818f87c6283066eaaf46b2880877e9aee83b5d2d8e50b201ca22a" }, { "bytes": 6377, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "308f0e2b824da785d51b7e888e92539ab306fb38805b81ea415119255284f3d5" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102745/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102745", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Three cup vacuum gripper, three zone face, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7564-ab4b-be92ec452b1f" } QqLaX9PsexygrAtjLhaiAmvtnALwP6wJMGqJfdVco7ZZFqVyFVEpkhIz8nLezo7QKqHbekdPvFQ3Yd0Wyup7BA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: QqLaX9PsexygrAtjLhaiAmvtnALwP6wJMGqJfdVco7ZZFqVyFVEpkhIz8nLezo7QKqHbekdPvFQ3Yd0Wyup7BA== {"files":[{"bytes":16474,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c186b36702cc8fc4d14f5b928e8b75cebe3daf06c9ba7e2638e95a02d06258be"},{"bytes":6441,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c5bff9541b9e0a115dd949441f712948869dfa03f5308b3a6c323e2ee8cde485"},{"bytes":6124,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a6ea0cbc62034ce465f85a7e2c0efb6b30252f4d100b0203dbd3d40bf70828ea"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"6efd193d380913d19dc50f41f37f12902e5a7a2842303c6f510713de4b6ed55b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"77d130cbc66118264111229d6d0f3c717a798fd3fe4366e9306039dbb575925c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4d0b0063e303304c6cea6b5cd82eb17e4034f7957643688d2ae469769095abb6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102746"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102746
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102746

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
a6ea0cbc62034ce465f85a7e2c0efb6b30252f4d100b0203dbd3d40bf70828ea

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102746, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102746.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102746" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102746" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102746 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102746 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102746 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102746 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102746", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16474, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c186b36702cc8fc4d14f5b928e8b75cebe3daf06c9ba7e2638e95a02d06258be" }, { "bytes": 6441, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c5bff9541b9e0a115dd949441f712948869dfa03f5308b3a6c323e2ee8cde485" }, { "bytes": 6124, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a6ea0cbc62034ce465f85a7e2c0efb6b30252f4d100b0203dbd3d40bf70828ea" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102746/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102746", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-782e-848b-3aab08383ecf" } kLf8tXrkgdpmj6l9kSndLmAsfJERrd0KRBFd3H2F0mbnbip3n3iElvCNEvShVO0nAS+oDrB0SF3Bm955QB+tCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: kLf8tXrkgdpmj6l9kSndLmAsfJERrd0KRBFd3H2F0mbnbip3n3iElvCNEvShVO0nAS+oDrB0SF3Bm955QB+tCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17282,"name":"index.html","sha256":"136ca391a6343a8e4d35917232f711aad48644203f37fe4471cb14916618a799"},{"bytes":7139,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b6779321b910262251a5ffa3bf608e4d19564628bf65f5485bcb481b62bdf98d"},{"bytes":6819,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"2041a4b25e3d85cd15dc9961d93244f69abc9142d4f6c67c8a62a1bcbc7c210f"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1de7ea185b79b66d58524b12dfdd279ab3bb409b8b030641ef201070fd5ff0c7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7feabcceac8df952909f4f715ae13d060941e0ffb67db20bd8070f48e38c5b98"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c588284c763df2e6bd86ccbb5735e67ee29568a814d4089320a8a68fc31c5e61"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102747"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102747
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102747

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
2041a4b25e3d85cd15dc9961d93244f69abc9142d4f6c67c8a62a1bcbc7c210f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102747, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102747.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102747" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102747" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102747 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102747 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102747 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102747 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102747", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17282, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "136ca391a6343a8e4d35917232f711aad48644203f37fe4471cb14916618a799" }, { "bytes": 7139, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b6779321b910262251a5ffa3bf608e4d19564628bf65f5485bcb481b62bdf98d" }, { "bytes": 6819, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2041a4b25e3d85cd15dc9961d93244f69abc9142d4f6c67c8a62a1bcbc7c210f" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102747/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102747", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7e5f-a886-2c206a76e9ad" } rz3Pzk/5a8KY1N9MHIv9FnHQMY7BKWqQEwCOxo3PWuAl/IGbwUa0YqmmIWgKSMuV9skeko6Tg5wXvIEZsskQDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: rz3Pzk/5a8KY1N9MHIv9FnHQMY7BKWqQEwCOxo3PWuAl/IGbwUa0YqmmIWgKSMuV9skeko6Tg5wXvIEZsskQDw== {"files":[{"bytes":17029,"name":"index.html","sha256":"50d51224e4b94fbbb8ff5b776b1cedcb810ead47f06700be37fb492d86b7acd6"},{"bytes":6929,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ed08ce0ee5e5293d3a3ee91a2616e8819a481ee495977723dd7a2741f2354be0"},{"bytes":6609,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bf9a862d01f724b35055684857aa3c9a83651bfb87518da81939984b1e9137c2"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"41a40076ec75bc9433b81fa3dcc877adfd7779b7dd8701c9f81206473a2ad5e9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"84f725be414ac33b59f984fb5e3a3996a5798f35e574e33af96891cfd5a9f103"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cc7cdddbf54c4d69e625e3f83546b6dee2b425203cc801b49552b77dfe649797"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102748"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102748
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102748

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bf9a862d01f724b35055684857aa3c9a83651bfb87518da81939984b1e9137c2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102748, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102748.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102748" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102748" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102748 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102748 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102748 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102748 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102749

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ef7b960597de9a975ff29e7e969adb6bff227c7c34de3d9f275cbaed40072685

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102749, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102749.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102749" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102749" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102749 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102749 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102749 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102749 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102749", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16475, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "322410f11dee610e5c23a3668a7faddaa2ab259c245db13f8983e9ec7747313f" }, { "bytes": 6442, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cc9dde94f4180d8c223604ed65a6a2290b9e82f3e46c4e4a38b2c8b2a79bb41b" }, { "bytes": 6125, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ef7b960597de9a975ff29e7e969adb6bff227c7c34de3d9f275cbaed40072685" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102749/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102749", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7ff3-bf09-e3228d0f26b9" } eYmAA3pNWegsTnnaOlT7tiiEv+rP96Bc8RJ9uW7u3PKeI/mPxocRjJbzMolK4BH+Oaa1PfDqjsLl16cqgKZoBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: eYmAA3pNWegsTnnaOlT7tiiEv+rP96Bc8RJ9uW7u3PKeI/mPxocRjJbzMolK4BH+Oaa1PfDqjsLl16cqgKZoBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17283,"name":"index.html","sha256":"85edd471e0bbd79bebe385c35db129049dccda41d02e113b5b7616bcc580d981"},{"bytes":7140,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"73c9a88c49c7d2dd24cd1743f6419f4478e4be485840c3e06e50a041c0c7374c"},{"bytes":6820,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ef3efe95e6012a616ca253bc52c27b8ea3cfcdce5955fe503cedd30a43f17ada"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"45232dc41abb60d7e9fbfe1a148afa4c0ef3bec25466a5b8d1e32e35e0512408"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e02ff3dddfdf496ab395038c503a5954b5779983f3ad9c66b0b5793d3e7494af"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e3ef58b0b6ef30464e581235794e6e5c654b07f083859ec8292bb2fed5dac00b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102750"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102750
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102750

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ef3efe95e6012a616ca253bc52c27b8ea3cfcdce5955fe503cedd30a43f17ada

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102750, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102750.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102750" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102750" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102750 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102750 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102750 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102750 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102750", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17283, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "85edd471e0bbd79bebe385c35db129049dccda41d02e113b5b7616bcc580d981" }, { "bytes": 7140, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "73c9a88c49c7d2dd24cd1743f6419f4478e4be485840c3e06e50a041c0c7374c" }, { "bytes": 6820, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ef3efe95e6012a616ca253bc52c27b8ea3cfcdce5955fe503cedd30a43f17ada" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102750/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102750", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7f3b-8120-2a09056e882a" } mx9rjYfLdMWCnEXaINUNULj+l0kw5juKKfbCbD1mism/NT/oDHy3/csuRb4o+v9oJCxYPUhmRTEYi2Gd++qCDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: mx9rjYfLdMWCnEXaINUNULj+l0kw5juKKfbCbD1mism/NT/oDHy3/csuRb4o+v9oJCxYPUhmRTEYi2Gd++qCDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17030,"name":"index.html","sha256":"3c02a754dc286d704175b50e9d289074ca38e5eae81c9e44053ca2619f18b2c7"},{"bytes":6930,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"917dc1de3614ba35d050b3a0693280dcb3d2b814169a79649bc6d9dbd4454e50"},{"bytes":6610,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"82816767ff2f76441e4316a261bb9a2a911fd29b7d578b9c37e6391f77255630"},{"bytes":2759,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"17bba3a66e720f5ad19a708bf7081c1fb66fb921ad9f4be2031070fcec55e112"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9fd31ff0d1d81b2852d7397239e92eaefbf2be92198b6e02204428982da58f37"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"510fb6f8a60dea8ad42aa314f2bfe6031b056adf06133bb794c824203b56030a"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102751"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102751
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102751

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
82816767ff2f76441e4316a261bb9a2a911fd29b7d578b9c37e6391f77255630

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102751, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102751.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102751" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102751" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102751 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102751 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102751 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102751 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102751", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17030, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3c02a754dc286d704175b50e9d289074ca38e5eae81c9e44053ca2619f18b2c7" }, { "bytes": 6930, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "917dc1de3614ba35d050b3a0693280dcb3d2b814169a79649bc6d9dbd4454e50" }, { "bytes": 6610, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "82816767ff2f76441e4316a261bb9a2a911fd29b7d578b9c37e6391f77255630" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102751/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102751", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7e82-87e9-24216173925a" } HA8jXjX3JwVeSF95uETxDA/hLsFR/0sSAt2pOiKRKesi3eHeZR3uq3juXKha2EsmeoY7ouAy7am3z6lZjp90CQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: HA8jXjX3JwVeSF95uETxDA/hLsFR/0sSAt2pOiKRKesi3eHeZR3uq3juXKha2EsmeoY7ouAy7am3z6lZjp90CQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16479,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e0b47863ef00423de27d7dba10836e5f753793b0978a41ae765d04df35642e9b"},{"bytes":6446,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c753384ba15cda48e2e1ae01ce0154c6ea37613aacb8d8ea107242555b98ff34"},{"bytes":6129,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f76ea5f5a0d01e5b3546806a5145c91fb92fade09bbbb07cc092c1ee0fcace48"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"522ba782f2b5a77bd45d29908cdd85245169684271059b21e421a1eab1bb87f3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2218184b3192ab81abe2b4b81e87f0695f63a805c4aca57076c7367f10dbbee0"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0716483c21a59e38427b97127a31b32830b31befbc4e64b9f94b3714481a9632"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102752"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102752
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102752

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
f76ea5f5a0d01e5b3546806a5145c91fb92fade09bbbb07cc092c1ee0fcace48

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102752, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102752.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102752" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102752" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102752 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102752 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102752 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102752 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102753

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
adf300f450e274e61f1e55437f3f8ff9c39d83aabee16583f8d6bf9a32147c5a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102753, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102753.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102753" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102753" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102753 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102753 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102753 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102753 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102754

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
09a6b36c9b9d2e1f54dd8283d0ca502e3fc6e70070815f2aeb1c69b35cb63763

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102754, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102754.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102754" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102754" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102754 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102754 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102754 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102754 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102754", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17034, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6c8da2a8f6dab84ac6b776718e3baeb309b88e5e0b346e49f27014a085c38a66" }, { "bytes": 6934, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5c323c705a0bce9b40292e7d9a159432b93c3255bbde276ae432c0d21ebcbeb2" }, { "bytes": 6614, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "09a6b36c9b9d2e1f54dd8283d0ca502e3fc6e70070815f2aeb1c69b35cb63763" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102754/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102754", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7555-addc-28ec9d29947f" } 0McP4ncI8OAJzD4PgQNfVu0NZLQI7pTO6Tsn+HS65uX4WzjP1HLKERb9HDol5ewfBxV8/EQioW9MdPog+ivOCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 0McP4ncI8OAJzD4PgQNfVu0NZLQI7pTO6Tsn+HS65uX4WzjP1HLKERb9HDol5ewfBxV8/EQioW9MdPog+ivOCA== {"files":[{"bytes":16668,"name":"index.html","sha256":"55e000e45e3376719e5de6ab43f4b446dff883a67274bfc34771f6c6b975e99c"},{"bytes":6603,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"76dc7a54992a0de2d9094abd9ac5013cf7a5f884856890ac0e529059220236f0"},{"bytes":6296,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"e706c8e3b0bf92594d3010c3008395e2e06a57b3a092736cd47d5419179f7120"},{"bytes":2729,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"67ce025927dfea5df19965e3db31727c49cf59aa61b1b0621c7d2830bc98bde7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f7c6e5f56206a8e98659cf6a1ba3b57fc5ed41cfddac8be519cbfe6c168ad6be"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"6ff2b28dee8e472ff1853296daa5630b6eefdb45ea7047a9f25682904d53dc68"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102755"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102755
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102755

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e706c8e3b0bf92594d3010c3008395e2e06a57b3a092736cd47d5419179f7120

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102755, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102755.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102755" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102755" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102755 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102755 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102755 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102755 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102755", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 905 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16668, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "55e000e45e3376719e5de6ab43f4b446dff883a67274bfc34771f6c6b975e99c" }, { "bytes": 6603, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "76dc7a54992a0de2d9094abd9ac5013cf7a5f884856890ac0e529059220236f0" }, { "bytes": 6296, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e706c8e3b0bf92594d3010c3008395e2e06a57b3a092736cd47d5419179f7120" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102755/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102755", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7d08-b25c-b3b6e48d77c6" } 9fQGGbOkQC1uT9o9ymzE6EkZTN2Pyg8ZfkAQlD12JhWEy7x9YHcRASoL5sdEFiCNpPhgZQ1zHEnm/DRgrmNoBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 9fQGGbOkQC1uT9o9ymzE6EkZTN2Pyg8ZfkAQlD12JhWEy7x9YHcRASoL5sdEFiCNpPhgZQ1zHEnm/DRgrmNoBA== {"files":[{"bytes":17476,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4d748c047278b2a3e3a25ebe3a2a9cdf3ea87185d137526d8dfa4fdd2539d19e"},{"bytes":7301,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7b6db355575c2e98753ecb7b23f567527a462ff2e62c3db06b68b789592eeb6e"},{"bytes":6991,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b3c44f289abce5dccf9c69d58e28c380c06607b958114bcd274578594d388e00"},{"bytes":2739,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3c7628e19fad27ec0d9b6b628248d3c8dbd805110e703b2c85bb6abb67de4afd"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1cd53898ed31b71e92efd1df0f4f0c8d2efa60a26c3490f450b669fcc684b9e4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"75d407721ee8612e637ca000e14555cf1ee9764fdc2b588c3a651a26f29e8fe9"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102756"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102756
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102756

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b3c44f289abce5dccf9c69d58e28c380c06607b958114bcd274578594d388e00

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102756, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102756.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102756" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102756" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102756 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102756 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102756 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102756 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102756", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17476, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4d748c047278b2a3e3a25ebe3a2a9cdf3ea87185d137526d8dfa4fdd2539d19e" }, { "bytes": 7301, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7b6db355575c2e98753ecb7b23f567527a462ff2e62c3db06b68b789592eeb6e" }, { "bytes": 6991, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b3c44f289abce5dccf9c69d58e28c380c06607b958114bcd274578594d388e00" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102756/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102756", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-77f4-839a-c1af7a87a18b" } JZ+T2A8YZJ1ACOriPiQEbzzaUPxEjNxUeIGVYUYWfYAN6ZiwHx9TokIFlx0QkW9ThDVm+r+dkx7W88KCpT2wCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: JZ+T2A8YZJ1ACOriPiQEbzzaUPxEjNxUeIGVYUYWfYAN6ZiwHx9TokIFlx0QkW9ThDVm+r+dkx7W88KCpT2wCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17223,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9ed0723ac333e314307f6f820e0c1cf7946b44e485bcb5e281226bfb348beb3e"},{"bytes":7091,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ff11e9a7009fc1eb491639dfccde86585ee79b0f27a538cfd76bd8ce23331294"},{"bytes":6781,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5eaca32caf247ad1274bf57b24ba97645b2916b4defbf853b40de7b4e53ec394"},{"bytes":2738,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9b8c901254bbfe731e2e150e568be47fcecabbff4629ae77abdd9e676f0ca5de"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"af71d05cab792c177e2470dcfdc8fdbbb6059adcddda1d0843a09d4725b22577"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d128439d5dc3e9dc65d8e665c8b92b6f41103a3d2312d7cee3defe9934ef63a4"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102757"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102757
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102757

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
5eaca32caf247ad1274bf57b24ba97645b2916b4defbf853b40de7b4e53ec394

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102757, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102757.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102757" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102757" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102757 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102757 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102757 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102757 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102757", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 976 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17223, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "9ed0723ac333e314307f6f820e0c1cf7946b44e485bcb5e281226bfb348beb3e" }, { "bytes": 7091, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ff11e9a7009fc1eb491639dfccde86585ee79b0f27a538cfd76bd8ce23331294" }, { "bytes": 6781, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "5eaca32caf247ad1274bf57b24ba97645b2916b4defbf853b40de7b4e53ec394" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102757/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102757", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7078-8815-3b93642d1058" } UPCwD60ZXQR3YusxKjqCQi/5bi2+rKYMF5DEEJ+FnGVJtXCRz3m+nyHGuyZtskjpF5TUFybIPS9+bQAtn+a0CQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: UPCwD60ZXQR3YusxKjqCQi/5bi2+rKYMF5DEEJ+FnGVJtXCRz3m+nyHGuyZtskjpF5TUFybIPS9+bQAtn+a0CQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16614,"name":"index.html","sha256":"74790863e1c517a198c0528a24e503e60c45a2f915c7a9dc4eef6fa8166747ca"},{"bytes":6549,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e6f5feba664419dd409597c6abaf404596e8afe685b19d0379af92d9b47d5897"},{"bytes":6242,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"fe96ec127db7b3e8139ca27bb6e4da8200357e3b4f91cfd8433645cd8d009cb8"},{"bytes":2729,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0bd69a1e6dae921d5dd206ce1f0765b40362fdac39ee5ca263d623e03be21d61"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"7d13495627c92d47286d3185a0c37652dc2995a0ff9de6baf08fb58a53f9a8e8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8148605e611f08520a6dc59c289af1c2356fd4593802be88d609634aa19580bf"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102758"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102758
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102758

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
fe96ec127db7b3e8139ca27bb6e4da8200357e3b4f91cfd8433645cd8d009cb8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102758, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102758.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102758" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102758" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102758 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102758 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102758 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102758 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102759

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
28e9279d0bd1d4e0acec8272697b6d77d8c89078516d1d2566d9bd74dbd8285d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102759, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102759.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102759" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102759" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102759 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102759 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102759 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102759 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102760

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
193f29498e99d905d3ad8f28e33ce3927ee970c4fd214eb739977f888f10ed18

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102760, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102760.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102760" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102760" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102760 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102760 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102760 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102760 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102760", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 961 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17169, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e09fe92d915f907d3cad10be9f882ea8c3251f6d2ebbf203bf17bd64d9474b30" }, { "bytes": 7037, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ea71eaa884e949b081bbdb5ff7c47b218175fe95586fc180868aa4a07be46bbf" }, { "bytes": 6727, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "193f29498e99d905d3ad8f28e33ce3927ee970c4fd214eb739977f888f10ed18" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102760/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102760", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7dad-a5ac-304828ec3926" } nHcZH2nehVaGtaQD7CEtdXcjEP604kOJOzhXOJ5JDMsTqICb/Jne3lOhACmF+WWyq3U09Bu3N5QfkqFoPsa1AA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: nHcZH2nehVaGtaQD7CEtdXcjEP604kOJOzhXOJ5JDMsTqICb/Jne3lOhACmF+WWyq3U09Bu3N5QfkqFoPsa1AA== {"files":[{"bytes":16368,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a958339b917569e416f72c9b460ff0b5dad63c20cc75cde3348ca49d446a3d2b"},{"bytes":6351,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"1706b7db19b6acd70ee46106358d599eb0fdbc62fb5f76057360af9c5ea08e57"},{"bytes":6042,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cc0dbbc12f16f47bec01d4060693d5bf3eb4115188f9075a5f7af48546f57ab7"},{"bytes":2742,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ae0e6fdf2c7dfc108e034a70d1dcb503bc20fb3a54b32f56266c942a875e2574"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"24f6887a9aea572eb260fb5ca541e83e92ec0ab00657b9efaa3491f09eae2cbf"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f90c0a01993f148826d0727e0b469584351077b70ddeb6bfc4b39dccd728f7ea"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102761"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102761
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102761

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
cc0dbbc12f16f47bec01d4060693d5bf3eb4115188f9075a5f7af48546f57ab7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102761, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102761.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102761" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102761" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102761 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102761 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102761 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102761 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102761", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16368, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a958339b917569e416f72c9b460ff0b5dad63c20cc75cde3348ca49d446a3d2b" }, { "bytes": 6351, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "1706b7db19b6acd70ee46106358d599eb0fdbc62fb5f76057360af9c5ea08e57" }, { "bytes": 6042, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cc0dbbc12f16f47bec01d4060693d5bf3eb4115188f9075a5f7af48546f57ab7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102761/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102761", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-759a-bfbb-bd22654d891a" } v4Y8/D8DugImfaIwJX+EP3BJfpHcZdNRpGuY8DH0iNI6im9E2QFajM31e47ud081Q0JpS1xy1N4TxfUYb7/dBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: v4Y8/D8DugImfaIwJX+EP3BJfpHcZdNRpGuY8DH0iNI6im9E2QFajM31e47ud081Q0JpS1xy1N4TxfUYb7/dBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17176,"name":"index.html","sha256":"902813eb51854a7292e56c6c44e6ed60ed94cf396b00e2ba67f36cbd8327705e"},{"bytes":7049,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9d985c8d5652ab8974a7463239f96cc1c8a495701dfb6f5a698842defe743f18"},{"bytes":6737,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"32e228475bad985b3b28d325c7e55a2269c3271adc761fc5948e93b8e94c1a8a"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0a91beb7aaea39fafc8332fb9d97998e31b06296376315f748cd6a49eb7ee642"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"845cfe82ec604e6408e105446379abe85b6d1513e97e477646d69cfe7ea29aba"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5fac2b26b6cfad43318fde9529bdb4fcf33aa56a5b1c530b4707e43af58244a8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102762"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102762
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102762

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
32e228475bad985b3b28d325c7e55a2269c3271adc761fc5948e93b8e94c1a8a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102762, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102762.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102762" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102762" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102762 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102762 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102762 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102762 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102763

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
56c381449bec41159d0b3631315d9b107714bb902c99270c974fa60dbf9018e5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102763, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102763.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102763" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102763" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102763 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102763 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102763 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102763 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102764

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
dbada5109d07dacfdd8626c5968052836e22c74df3e618c0b3e8561aa31d3633

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102764, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102764.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102764" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102764" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102764 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102764 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102764 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102764 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102764", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16368, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "34933e547178128cda261c92142ce74024d940df01d44425ba6736e23ca4bae2" }, { "bytes": 6351, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3d650fcc55c1534e5f614358b312a80fd6ad2df25f66abe7711f6fbba8d93927" }, { "bytes": 6042, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "dbada5109d07dacfdd8626c5968052836e22c74df3e618c0b3e8561aa31d3633" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102764/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102764", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-73f6-a7b3-4b8f7823e159" } 0HnK4iuUIpC5tU4qW6Ki+fTUkjUC36iltW0Nu8EsTqigf0kxdl9I+CIuVKrBA05TMXCzkqK/oiWMf+Ca7IRfCA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 0HnK4iuUIpC5tU4qW6Ki+fTUkjUC36iltW0Nu8EsTqigf0kxdl9I+CIuVKrBA05TMXCzkqK/oiWMf+Ca7IRfCA== {"files":[{"bytes":17176,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c5a121055e15e81aa8f9ac2715f7132316609b8f59d43dd598c2a64368e2bbbf"},{"bytes":7049,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b5559fa4502eb526d2d423bee6878c0f7383bd838f702e3950e319f4ee5cfeff"},{"bytes":6737,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"828bfc3244993d74ac26bd5f4524108d20e121116c1a37458943592d893d1b85"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"32aa0a13efaaeb773df463d43fccc93bd3d69b0ef20f6225e97c5bb18c05e4f3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3d64a9977eeaeb938ae99e8a03c5176dfdaa954a44aa1f842e3af09c01764543"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d2c64fabdf3a271ccca9de02436bd5d1aea6a015ef0482e7b51a72dfe1c12ad6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102765"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102765
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102765

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
828bfc3244993d74ac26bd5f4524108d20e121116c1a37458943592d893d1b85

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102765, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102765.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102765" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102765" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102765 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102765 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102765 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102765 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102765", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17176, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c5a121055e15e81aa8f9ac2715f7132316609b8f59d43dd598c2a64368e2bbbf" }, { "bytes": 7049, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b5559fa4502eb526d2d423bee6878c0f7383bd838f702e3950e319f4ee5cfeff" }, { "bytes": 6737, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "828bfc3244993d74ac26bd5f4524108d20e121116c1a37458943592d893d1b85" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102765/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102765", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7195-b6c7-aa551a7a0cb4" } sG5LmYE6HN9/Xd0VJ4DxcxYi4L5mvdwHu08ByhUTjNNU7RkZupDUgNQ4vvwUaiSwy64kD99Dcuyc1KUlzzcjDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sG5LmYE6HN9/Xd0VJ4DxcxYi4L5mvdwHu08ByhUTjNNU7RkZupDUgNQ4vvwUaiSwy64kD99Dcuyc1KUlzzcjDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16923,"name":"index.html","sha256":"045cf7e75dae4c127444a8c55e5b0fb52cc055f98ae9aa2aa8b2dbccb8b50b2d"},{"bytes":6839,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"88f2a957bb54cd429b1b4ed79f7a522dd02bdc95c3cd3b93aafe111fce180421"},{"bytes":6527,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"41e34eb61e1e880a2d44bcdac07acd787b4a29a529387c4b527432a1a304a993"},{"bytes":2751,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9d0e62bbf560b5379873762a773332aaf3a36905963dcbaa084799c18d9c51ab"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0eeee9ed5b1c28f1fac4b31a7774217e6e0fe1d4cb058ec020729c1b8fc7e48e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"96a410c252b4cf432778a0600b69b770b375d50c8953f9fa4811126c5ac9655d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102766"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102766
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102766

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
41e34eb61e1e880a2d44bcdac07acd787b4a29a529387c4b527432a1a304a993

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102766, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102766.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102766" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102766" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102766 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102766 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has one stage. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: one (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102766 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102766 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102766", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16923, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "045cf7e75dae4c127444a8c55e5b0fb52cc055f98ae9aa2aa8b2dbccb8b50b2d" }, { "bytes": 6839, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "88f2a957bb54cd429b1b4ed79f7a522dd02bdc95c3cd3b93aafe111fce180421" }, { "bytes": 6527, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "41e34eb61e1e880a2d44bcdac07acd787b4a29a529387c4b527432a1a304a993" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102766/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102766", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, single stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7017-8da2-17d063c1108a" } pdH8SYcufJk5+ktdNPyOEz7BNvhp5Vu9VFYxrjPQtJ2TXMogliTJHcYLpO/zyP3EukN2PdA+k5VFBm+Sl0yzCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: pdH8SYcufJk5+ktdNPyOEz7BNvhp5Vu9VFYxrjPQtJ2TXMogliTJHcYLpO/zyP3EukN2PdA+k5VFBm+Sl0yzCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16463,"name":"index.html","sha256":"8c429669b4d0f430a6a37560dab68236dd02fda1998f8f315894996fe1aeb119"},{"bytes":6436,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ec71916066e30b8201aecf960f73d9cb4887d790b83658f206fc448d4c134f0f"},{"bytes":6122,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c7f0e3b73b647362ab73d93e0aa08d5c027cc70f812196ad61f5c7715fbcb98e"},{"bytes":2747,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2aff59ddcfc3ee0ba63a7bb2afc4600d21b5626a1f57ad2a92cb85177b7e45fb"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c0056a0bc5962fa1ed981eb465ab09bf39c4903a6584eb8134b1d97009b0f91c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"19f0c28b6f34f0adac156612018f2ae028891f9100b87e77482dc409cd9ca5c1"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102767"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102767
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102767

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
c7f0e3b73b647362ab73d93e0aa08d5c027cc70f812196ad61f5c7715fbcb98e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102767, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102767.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102767" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102767" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102767 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102767 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102767 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102767 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102768

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
30abaf84edcabe3774a52c66461fd3488e18e00eb6ed2f1d09295eaf230f4a6b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102768, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102768.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102768" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102768" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102768 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102768 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102768 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102768 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102769

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3e53051a57909fe024e3db1aafd5b4eb2072293e49eaf32f1a85f4a7df1b1f5c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102769, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102769.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102769" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102769" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102769 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102769 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102769 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102769 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102769", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17018, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "52a7fb10369a4183172a634cd18472a02000c2979b968e6d79c5f7a6e98260d1" }, { "bytes": 6924, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f69b1ebd5a5fb70d3cd064b609cdf12ae6fcc0b8290018b2d233f4bab9974ae9" }, { "bytes": 6607, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3e53051a57909fe024e3db1aafd5b4eb2072293e49eaf32f1a85f4a7df1b1f5c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102769/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102769", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7e51-98e9-f92330d02e0b" } 63YY8+ljAY9+iUXTroHzfEMEHfvSKOe0LzVWEWWU5xl49Qq/4L7ICoe+1f7LFkZ/0uCmcXVxaJqNZdKjry/rDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 63YY8+ljAY9+iUXTroHzfEMEHfvSKOe0LzVWEWWU5xl49Qq/4L7ICoe+1f7LFkZ/0uCmcXVxaJqNZdKjry/rDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16464,"name":"index.html","sha256":"94e0a01763b404d369ccbd55de91a9441742dfe525395cb2384654a98e3852d1"},{"bytes":6437,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"698382bb2a55eafbd446b825df77c79a96aeef89cdb1680ed43414c375485ec9"},{"bytes":6123,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ddde5617c21676eec4eba06b97d5414f1213f753964166f86deda150624443a9"},{"bytes":2747,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"527050f27765e4cfd7d21b5e3b7ac059f126bb21a97d27b21725941e848a17a5"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"65d42c46b8fc78f6958567169e03faded9498fdc98990b573a3fb9cbe6aa22c1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e9388e43ae7f424724979a74263fc04cec0ec4befcbbd74058be506dcb113716"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102770"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102770
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102770

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ddde5617c21676eec4eba06b97d5414f1213f753964166f86deda150624443a9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102770, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102770.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102770" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102770" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102770 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102770 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102770 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102770 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102770", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16464, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "94e0a01763b404d369ccbd55de91a9441742dfe525395cb2384654a98e3852d1" }, { "bytes": 6437, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "698382bb2a55eafbd446b825df77c79a96aeef89cdb1680ed43414c375485ec9" }, { "bytes": 6123, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ddde5617c21676eec4eba06b97d5414f1213f753964166f86deda150624443a9" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102770/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102770", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-77ca-ae3c-58b28d395832" } sT6dD68VL59PGctBeqeAuPMf/wSPsIT0fVb+wOeVUfkzF4BcLsTCYYArGvwGwo4kkC3lLpEC4jjhnV25frqTBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sT6dD68VL59PGctBeqeAuPMf/wSPsIT0fVb+wOeVUfkzF4BcLsTCYYArGvwGwo4kkC3lLpEC4jjhnV25frqTBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17272,"name":"index.html","sha256":"15b4cc0e787abde92e8f4eb11ae85826f3ea45c85307e30580e0a4e51876aeec"},{"bytes":7135,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"cabcc8c63416e3ebd67432f094deddeae297d3e7ab88ea503924441610500bf2"},{"bytes":6818,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4be626b27661e8a9bf7e5c5e81dfb13a3d2069dc6fd45945337b4b21114eac97"},{"bytes":2756,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a53a6659b70f7da71ef6525af3a0dfa329f094dbe576c5cfdb179a63951bcb1d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"426fb31d11e1b9e93f9c8796b3b35434c577827d45d49bff6e084b2512f9b5de"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d39b0e9ead0905fcf2679b86e2504b3dc8853888a653ed958fc24d48282a5848"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102771"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102771
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102771

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
4be626b27661e8a9bf7e5c5e81dfb13a3d2069dc6fd45945337b4b21114eac97

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102771, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102771.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102771" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102771" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102771 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102771 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102771 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102771 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102771", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17272, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "15b4cc0e787abde92e8f4eb11ae85826f3ea45c85307e30580e0a4e51876aeec" }, { "bytes": 7135, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cabcc8c63416e3ebd67432f094deddeae297d3e7ab88ea503924441610500bf2" }, { "bytes": 6818, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4be626b27661e8a9bf7e5c5e81dfb13a3d2069dc6fd45945337b4b21114eac97" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102771/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102771", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-738b-ac41-17b4fa2a7ba8" } GA3zTsVuncH+6/aySLcJ5JSlIA3FVzBQfpUA4qigQLGLt2yp85wi+z+sBaRXyU7VWWD1VxUrmoq0GiAix8YdCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: GA3zTsVuncH+6/aySLcJ5JSlIA3FVzBQfpUA4qigQLGLt2yp85wi+z+sBaRXyU7VWWD1VxUrmoq0GiAix8YdCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17019,"name":"index.html","sha256":"39293d0524f2077ce9e4fa02fadbb49981e47b8907dcc98f63852c9777f38ebd"},{"bytes":6925,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d7690166a313997ce6f44d4e93f398c3b0afc5cefd5a3a35460e411504b50c4d"},{"bytes":6608,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d2b111f9e796bcb0484ee318fb01b5a52d7aceeaf8097ce79c31784cb34315b1"},{"bytes":2756,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"e04905a88f0063b10e452eeffe96faaab349aced77e267190e16414c399956f7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9cc3390f8860f8a56c391d08b65cb6145ebe23d18c1a0d98eeca0b72154f7462"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"14e4f3b408904048187a855b5a6f9e03afb49f5b836acc75180b3d6e52def3c8"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102772"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102772
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102772

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
d2b111f9e796bcb0484ee318fb01b5a52d7aceeaf8097ce79c31784cb34315b1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102772, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102772.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102772" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102772" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102772 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102772 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102772 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102772 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102773

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
fbce60e74628390e30cf4f54f743a9071ea47d5b095f1a529b30d9984446a03a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102773, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102773.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102773" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102773" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102773 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102773 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102773 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102773 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102774

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
76d917fa90942f40523474960eefe0eec9b42b33f583290f12f6c54a0568ec3b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102774, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102774.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102774" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102774" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102774 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102774 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102774 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102774 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102774", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17276, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "8da3751e2718684e98f63dd02efedd23f7384f2a2aacfd0613238e66ec440d6f" }, { "bytes": 7139, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6a2a089b8707737691cfb2a1ed5886e7abc6e916ecbb4b6f354c671fb47cae0d" }, { "bytes": 6822, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "76d917fa90942f40523474960eefe0eec9b42b33f583290f12f6c54a0568ec3b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102774/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102774", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7ee4-8da3-3c624cde7d97" } Q/+ndZYzKjyW7aWJyhGjD7GZd/LI3hAKlZVo2ASEkmNSRDEwNO6cxHzWv/bg3T3zz6nKHHk6psKRRxAOsjQ2BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Q/+ndZYzKjyW7aWJyhGjD7GZd/LI3hAKlZVo2ASEkmNSRDEwNO6cxHzWv/bg3T3zz6nKHHk6psKRRxAOsjQ2BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17023,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d8d581f37fcf4aad0bfe843d7cdd80607aa38d953397a2b7ad8c07b68223d899"},{"bytes":6929,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"7de58f148c7648f4435a658a1f542ac8154b56f0c48b430e59edc11791c28ad8"},{"bytes":6612,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3a87f33a74781d1b2a24ac7095b859a0b4125093854143084c0454da645e6769"},{"bytes":2756,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"132521685c6948dbda3a090b4a68781056b77f8ba88ac18e38f414ee9b1f3834"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9faf840647391185467e5e8649f27385a9e7ab78fdf153807e43385ae46e3cc9"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"80cb708c5fe36206a88b9ac160c80f9dd4a949731489aff858027ae134e45e5b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102775"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102775
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102775

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3a87f33a74781d1b2a24ac7095b859a0b4125093854143084c0454da645e6769

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102775, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102775.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102775" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102775" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102775 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102775 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102775 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102775 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102775", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17023, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d8d581f37fcf4aad0bfe843d7cdd80607aa38d953397a2b7ad8c07b68223d899" }, { "bytes": 6929, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "7de58f148c7648f4435a658a1f542ac8154b56f0c48b430e59edc11791c28ad8" }, { "bytes": 6612, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3a87f33a74781d1b2a24ac7095b859a0b4125093854143084c0454da645e6769" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102775/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102775", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7618-96b3-ddbdf799531e" } 16PrOZ34wUgBD5wrWsbfIePGZfN34LgJXscBga7CTsznodEal7uXkQCB6+GhmGLs/iQsK7i5X0t+/26ZbxOFBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 16PrOZ34wUgBD5wrWsbfIePGZfN34LgJXscBga7CTsznodEal7uXkQCB6+GhmGLs/iQsK7i5X0t+/26ZbxOFBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16657,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6780500aa399bc1c226c3032ea7918aa9ef924f05b9cda06dc7a5dabc2b1a648"},{"bytes":6598,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"af98e3d60b404409681b6c480ce36065544d4b41884897125872ccbd1c4b40c9"},{"bytes":6294,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"c2db4aba08faee0f0ba110780f02d413b67996bb690eb5a5baf85f4c0b161a76"},{"bytes":2726,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fb0691b8e0ecde578ae5b30769ad173120a21191dc05cb187d49f097b5e38e7d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b18c14721ccb7927767b13b7c6dbda8b3580b5dfad2b390a9c9995baa2e45d92"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"7b93808f52376f0cf6a38a8ecd92ee94f31d739ce57d7b24c7024491c8692717"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102776"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102776
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102776

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
c2db4aba08faee0f0ba110780f02d413b67996bb690eb5a5baf85f4c0b161a76

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102776, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102776.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102776" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102776" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102776 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102776 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102776 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102776 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102776", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 905 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16657, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "6780500aa399bc1c226c3032ea7918aa9ef924f05b9cda06dc7a5dabc2b1a648" }, { "bytes": 6598, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "af98e3d60b404409681b6c480ce36065544d4b41884897125872ccbd1c4b40c9" }, { "bytes": 6294, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c2db4aba08faee0f0ba110780f02d413b67996bb690eb5a5baf85f4c0b161a76" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102776/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102776", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-71a0-a2f7-e4a59a6ab951" } Sc3D1V5yac8phWZaIW5gI5cBSeTOeF5uHBk1SO/KAMmXIEFD33duy7HtoqToP5skHX9UkS82rmDMzN1hMRTuAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Sc3D1V5yac8phWZaIW5gI5cBSeTOeF5uHBk1SO/KAMmXIEFD33duy7HtoqToP5skHX9UkS82rmDMzN1hMRTuAw== {"files":[{"bytes":17465,"name":"index.html","sha256":"664867f2d23f7abc40b8084a0f6e767455589bea209ad67087df4718e790148b"},{"bytes":7296,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c3835e210cc1aa53c762ca202e926795a5311fc1ead832101d57580a797a9537"},{"bytes":6989,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"bf8ad304e4ba5cbd49d0da61a613123f45d531d81a3fff54ace420de17726a8b"},{"bytes":2736,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"592a498990002c91c6fcfb5396a8164a868bf178cd25b8685da34f8d05bde602"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b715dae4511bb2018bf2abfe3da4d07d5a14114f941580980edbca426cdabe8c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b05e3ffc67a43705db714e98fdb5b842e4a75f07ee7398a4cf24b90aeedeb778"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102777"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102777
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102777

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
bf8ad304e4ba5cbd49d0da61a613123f45d531d81a3fff54ace420de17726a8b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102777, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102777.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102777" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102777" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102777 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102777 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102777 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102777 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102777", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17465, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "664867f2d23f7abc40b8084a0f6e767455589bea209ad67087df4718e790148b" }, { "bytes": 7296, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c3835e210cc1aa53c762ca202e926795a5311fc1ead832101d57580a797a9537" }, { "bytes": 6989, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "bf8ad304e4ba5cbd49d0da61a613123f45d531d81a3fff54ace420de17726a8b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102777/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102777", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7150-b96a-b3c9facefc2a" } XSTJEQMJw9BBsbSzk/1aoNimijS5WIQVK3P7PmxB1UxiwykSBUSMaKVwaHdlX5Wi0Fr7KENNxmGo/mm/u4CICg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: XSTJEQMJw9BBsbSzk/1aoNimijS5WIQVK3P7PmxB1UxiwykSBUSMaKVwaHdlX5Wi0Fr7KENNxmGo/mm/u4CICg== {"files":[{"bytes":17212,"name":"index.html","sha256":"523e2ec32920a45fcf6bf8b28c70568588358b04c9e306133ff4185771f85ffe"},{"bytes":7086,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9332b085c0b8ae57a54c93417c873a63b16e41a0d1d6df6f8197bc84546a8592"},{"bytes":6779,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a8c260fef559f0ab4b40e7d914d334517d2ae56a8fce3804be7789d47f1d6391"},{"bytes":2735,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2074e89cb875d279c7170e0636ca472f029a2984ccaae4b175683cef41aa05df"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3e56e786ab53cf23fbade7d9a7bcb7fba3ef316a00d0b9275c913b9e6e5728c8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"e8b52488b636d98356f1633cb17e978f2e1c8292f67cfc584f54d80519d14775"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102778"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102778
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102778

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
a8c260fef559f0ab4b40e7d914d334517d2ae56a8fce3804be7789d47f1d6391

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102778, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102778.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102778" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102778" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102778 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102778 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102778 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102778 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102779

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2e06b5f867d2cd18ab9d37155af13eed33635c3fab1c47dd2a63f27c8e92e2b4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102779, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102779.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102779" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102779" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102779 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102779 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102779 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102779 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102779", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 890 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16603, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "3c3a1b0986c25ea701694fcc0147585b914ced677f92630337c9ff058b7c64be" }, { "bytes": 6544, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5e3f849a3fb560bb6f1f6f5d364f0a53d3fd05ef3d6f3a0e78789d1cee62ef96" }, { "bytes": 6240, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2e06b5f867d2cd18ab9d37155af13eed33635c3fab1c47dd2a63f27c8e92e2b4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102779/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102779", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7224-99d7-1746db705112" } zzq0JpTbPzWMv0HSkJZa/I4bWz78XKaIQwqis9sDwWWwy6kCWvJLcfLePlxQH8eMFTV3f7UD6kXkgCe0nEkYAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: zzq0JpTbPzWMv0HSkJZa/I4bWz78XKaIQwqis9sDwWWwy6kCWvJLcfLePlxQH8eMFTV3f7UD6kXkgCe0nEkYAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17411,"name":"index.html","sha256":"12f0ae4c2a2063bd7ce1b3c5c89a9883f05fcd59e6af72bf7712b42ba57da782"},{"bytes":7242,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e01050d6299d941c72ba8399ee12ccbf089c0d43872bc7f3e5a7602546dee44a"},{"bytes":6935,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"505e9d62091721473285ddf721c3ebccbe7f360b242e67170ad526be5d69f5eb"},{"bytes":2735,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"fc330684dcf68c2ffea0c2027f758cf5095c5a0afb7d92f4a4db6185d9272561"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"308081c7f08300dcf5793d303c124046eee6edc9ca6571241a1ff2d50c412bdf"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"db33d14f5598640841d20d5c4d0725a0678fa621a947231a7026661602bde516"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102780"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102780
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102780

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
505e9d62091721473285ddf721c3ebccbe7f360b242e67170ad526be5d69f5eb

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102780, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102780.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102780" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102780" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102780 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102780 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102780 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102780 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102780", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 996 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17411, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "12f0ae4c2a2063bd7ce1b3c5c89a9883f05fcd59e6af72bf7712b42ba57da782" }, { "bytes": 7242, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e01050d6299d941c72ba8399ee12ccbf089c0d43872bc7f3e5a7602546dee44a" }, { "bytes": 6935, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "505e9d62091721473285ddf721c3ebccbe7f360b242e67170ad526be5d69f5eb" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102780/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102780", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7d57-96d7-5f90b4bc85a6" } qeSy7SVmvJwuCFujEvSNXbR4u2e3tGEDCACkg8IcjShftXmJXjM/UC61Yk+oV4/J1Oya8e6e8syPFiQ6XRA8AA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: qeSy7SVmvJwuCFujEvSNXbR4u2e3tGEDCACkg8IcjShftXmJXjM/UC61Yk+oV4/J1Oya8e6e8syPFiQ6XRA8AA== {"files":[{"bytes":17158,"name":"index.html","sha256":"c03f5cd2ea0f630827d6121401d1347c5fe222b900b808753deffd6f9f807e94"},{"bytes":7032,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c58b2a89cf117ef90ccb3cc8bd9c81615bc5a79fb2a26dedd2d8f22310cb41c6"},{"bytes":6725,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"3fd47e5c78618e09f4a6077aa7fd8eb9bcb7c4a58c9c110fe7c93530bf79be72"},{"bytes":2735,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a8c23c364e09ea4bf52c54f6911c8bd30d90de4dacb3a83b997a781c163c0274"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f5dd9e436f62e481958d65884b17ca2450c5021d49f41d36769d014766902f2c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"04ac1ef71214e95e0b9980ac6724fa239769a5fd6283ada1ad01058e0e30cc55"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102781"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102781
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102781

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
3fd47e5c78618e09f4a6077aa7fd8eb9bcb7c4a58c9c110fe7c93530bf79be72

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102781, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102781.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102781" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102781" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102781 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102781 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102781 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102781 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102781", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 961 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17158, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c03f5cd2ea0f630827d6121401d1347c5fe222b900b808753deffd6f9f807e94" }, { "bytes": 7032, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "c58b2a89cf117ef90ccb3cc8bd9c81615bc5a79fb2a26dedd2d8f22310cb41c6" }, { "bytes": 6725, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "3fd47e5c78618e09f4a6077aa7fd8eb9bcb7c4a58c9c110fe7c93530bf79be72" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102781/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102781", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-74ee-880e-09e2407ec7b8" } cDf3PDNA1p7cv8hfUdOj0F/utvYEEO1e10BnLnWzryV+mVh+R4Doxr+6j8LusPUdzS7TLQ7tSwd9HtvlQ1bIAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: cDf3PDNA1p7cv8hfUdOj0F/utvYEEO1e10BnLnWzryV+mVh+R4Doxr+6j8LusPUdzS7TLQ7tSwd9HtvlQ1bIAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16357,"name":"index.html","sha256":"6d6e3bf6ccd9e160240ab178a9604e0b90ebe333fde2c10d3497660ac81e4aa2"},{"bytes":6346,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4e37bbd0b351f651d78d61310c7fcc36f8ca0923a12c3be18d53069efbb7c089"},{"bytes":6040,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ff89021c6d94b0cd25e857152d0ea724c3bbd5a2529f76e02fb36329a7df2f4f"},{"bytes":2739,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ffd70d6b01f462ab9dba488a2fa9bcc57d299339226bc014d59070374be81b50"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3a5e2d6ec0878630cc079779a24ad11e7072222e93643a3f0e66abb33f603558"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ffb14df517c55e3a6d68a0f12dc20a1855862950ac7c86b3f7cbcc209dcdeadd"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102782"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102782
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102782

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ff89021c6d94b0cd25e857152d0ea724c3bbd5a2529f76e02fb36329a7df2f4f

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102782, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102782.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102782" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102782" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102782 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102782 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102782 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102782 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102783

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ec412807c4453f3e9c967a26788ff31faee5cddc80a92754c137f5c002ffcb2d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102783, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102783.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102783" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102783" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102783 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102783 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102783 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102783 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102784

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8b1dd39b5d09b38b7f4914926ddecf7fd334bd3ba8fe250e372c809be125a1cd

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102784, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102784.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102784" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102784" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102784 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102784 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102784 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102784 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102785

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
89c2dd8980b8f8a566ab4b863125d7b45b72ab0ca53c37580d24345c7384d0d8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102785, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102785.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102785" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102785" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102785 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102785 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102785 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102785 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102785", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16357, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b0d472d128e24cad095dcbfc72cf4a7e407678bf0983c67c1c665ee5549cb116" }, { "bytes": 6346, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f114010417ceff431f8cade895fd21c462cdaab218042c59f0e61f6ea33b1f4d" }, { "bytes": 6040, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "89c2dd8980b8f8a566ab4b863125d7b45b72ab0ca53c37580d24345c7384d0d8" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102785/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102785", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7d52-963e-0abe39603bf5" } S96BQ3Ie2Qt82ggZzUBKVIgJWfuaV81lSC5PlSYJFYLlDVLQVabA96/iOK9V2jH91m4+uVKWRlXMS9knjh/QBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: S96BQ3Ie2Qt82ggZzUBKVIgJWfuaV81lSC5PlSYJFYLlDVLQVabA96/iOK9V2jH91m4+uVKWRlXMS9knjh/QBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17165,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4f41caaed7a1391ed6e5e234dc989cab4e701fdb48548a95e623f091d6d32b68"},{"bytes":7044,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"cd381ddf9cc5795265320a1f932e53306549383f62d9dd496156effc21f35a17"},{"bytes":6735,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"7de89fa2f9c5d3cc50d8d2b6c37f2af4c3daea299bb389987f3efdf4cb08a91e"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"94e5e1e176fcb5529f8617af18e6663ef60d306b3eeca928405969460ffc0ec7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"49a0054deea02368fbd601f2e2157b2ec5cf0d9234392d34ef17b754d7e05dbe"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0ddf9a4f8224a9c1a8cf5f9eacee9c5585f972ee3a05461c400e133dfd1766c1"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102786"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102786
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102786

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
7de89fa2f9c5d3cc50d8d2b6c37f2af4c3daea299bb389987f3efdf4cb08a91e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102786, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102786.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102786" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102786" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102786 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102786 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102786 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102786 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102786", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17165, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4f41caaed7a1391ed6e5e234dc989cab4e701fdb48548a95e623f091d6d32b68" }, { "bytes": 7044, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "cd381ddf9cc5795265320a1f932e53306549383f62d9dd496156effc21f35a17" }, { "bytes": 6735, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "7de89fa2f9c5d3cc50d8d2b6c37f2af4c3daea299bb389987f3efdf4cb08a91e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102786/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102786", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-755b-9afd-b2cff8326d93" } 7lSxUObYekZUCG3XOgf0+a+jw77HxzZhcDDITInx9IDiT4lkcRhkQLDLNAPo4AepX7P/IOAbJyXPmgpM4KezBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 7lSxUObYekZUCG3XOgf0+a+jw77HxzZhcDDITInx9IDiT4lkcRhkQLDLNAPo4AepX7P/IOAbJyXPmgpM4KezBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16912,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ccebb1d9c50469c7a181f74a88435a0e0aabd2e65668db31e2f6e7e3c3f716f7"},{"bytes":6834,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"11ecc0e7452500e90ee20ef5de3a3124146fcd212ffcf90bc94175275851675a"},{"bytes":6525,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"887620121d47ee89a132c9d452a6c7d24f38caa8c3cf3494aeeb23e6002b52ae"},{"bytes":2748,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"da20773af41eab47114bb0b017abbe5d1d598ba7a616ec71cd0cead95121d49b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"f575e991caf918f27381299c2a25da9acb5963a38aa348f5c79ac9cdc1dfbeec"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"cec91fb2b39e56ebd56d43c8009a5014b24e2bd963a993e1825b3428cadfea89"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102787"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102787
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102787

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
887620121d47ee89a132c9d452a6c7d24f38caa8c3cf3494aeeb23e6002b52ae

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102787, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102787.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102787" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102787" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102787 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102787 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has two stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: two (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102787 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102787 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102787", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16912, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ccebb1d9c50469c7a181f74a88435a0e0aabd2e65668db31e2f6e7e3c3f716f7" }, { "bytes": 6834, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "11ecc0e7452500e90ee20ef5de3a3124146fcd212ffcf90bc94175275851675a" }, { "bytes": 6525, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "887620121d47ee89a132c9d452a6c7d24f38caa8c3cf3494aeeb23e6002b52ae" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102787/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102787", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, two stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7067-a4e1-bdbbe1913d26" } ZXYRj295H43pntFE4bXbXGimpA2R44kDaLDTEoN0qOE6+6QahXvzPRZgY8KG/B77DCJVlydW48X8zuw0U5W/Cg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: ZXYRj295H43pntFE4bXbXGimpA2R44kDaLDTEoN0qOE6+6QahXvzPRZgY8KG/B77DCJVlydW48X8zuw0U5W/Cg== {"files":[{"bytes":16475,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ec4882994191f9cc98551a2c8b2b5217daf8c5c3d084abd5d1f127350f1e76bd"},{"bytes":6444,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2d4c06ce573b57df1f8aab7dd83a4625791425e66b99cb74cb5f37a55732c531"},{"bytes":6128,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f2fdaf931c7f0bb5aa91b37d840244faccd0378dfcba7edd0fb5ae7873327b9a"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"41a071266a2c8ab1871ca647fc293f39e4322324235da3b7f25b48c20c34abc8"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a5a5a2e2aab19a2f38d9cd7567d1a885f51da617a4ecf7f0d67b9061dd1e5199"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bc8ff83e695a40e66ffc2aba4101aafb52175be38a08122b26d4cc904c1fb1fa"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102788"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102788
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102788

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
f2fdaf931c7f0bb5aa91b37d840244faccd0378dfcba7edd0fb5ae7873327b9a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102788, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102788.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102788" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102788" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102788 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102788 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102788 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102788 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102788", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16475, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ec4882994191f9cc98551a2c8b2b5217daf8c5c3d084abd5d1f127350f1e76bd" }, { "bytes": 6444, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2d4c06ce573b57df1f8aab7dd83a4625791425e66b99cb74cb5f37a55732c531" }, { "bytes": 6128, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f2fdaf931c7f0bb5aa91b37d840244faccd0378dfcba7edd0fb5ae7873327b9a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102788/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102788", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7db9-bf03-ee7ef6c405cb" } JY0nBOUH9zAs0duMaR9kykyTA0BroSv2tuwxKqJnyWU6xplfSYp/WaflxY4t6cv/ztvhDqENwv3+1sBPNT96BA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: JY0nBOUH9zAs0duMaR9kykyTA0BroSv2tuwxKqJnyWU6xplfSYp/WaflxY4t6cv/ztvhDqENwv3+1sBPNT96BA== {"files":[{"bytes":17283,"name":"index.html","sha256":"041622f7946119b099c79b3ce80ae883ed97d213d02e06c4c63bed29177cf985"},{"bytes":7142,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e78e2896feb43f047b8c440db252e4da0b6380e38af3946e033ed9bb5b405149"},{"bytes":6823,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b7eb9b17fa1874cd7e15528cf3d83cc3a0543b6fd6ff1504cda115e0773e2d4b"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"dc0317d9ceec23ab28fc29d1c55bbe80010ffbfd462344eca042341576dfcc76"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"da88e264f031f4398ff6efd8083d53f30607ccb94ad8ea9f8213e9bc7d7a5f85"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ea3c94cf3e5b249fdd418130689ac3a2a95d6452072ac6bc7d5777b0479b29ce"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102789"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102789
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102789

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b7eb9b17fa1874cd7e15528cf3d83cc3a0543b6fd6ff1504cda115e0773e2d4b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102789, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102789.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102789" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102789" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102789 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102789 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102789 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102789 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102789", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17283, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "041622f7946119b099c79b3ce80ae883ed97d213d02e06c4c63bed29177cf985" }, { "bytes": 7142, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e78e2896feb43f047b8c440db252e4da0b6380e38af3946e033ed9bb5b405149" }, { "bytes": 6823, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "b7eb9b17fa1874cd7e15528cf3d83cc3a0543b6fd6ff1504cda115e0773e2d4b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102789/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102789", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7b40-aebe-fb65308bfc1f" } BuWKNMqvSzrEh8qoYUKtx1vLh0k0vDkqZqv/VIroukgXrUYFBEc/N+E+Vzt6Lx5rEnovmKC1JQNaVTPJkaqEAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: BuWKNMqvSzrEh8qoYUKtx1vLh0k0vDkqZqv/VIroukgXrUYFBEc/N+E+Vzt6Lx5rEnovmKC1JQNaVTPJkaqEAg== {"files":[{"bytes":17030,"name":"index.html","sha256":"a6884e3f6b7ccda44dd74c7a982c1fd0034ee4e7407558d8a84e4a447781652b"},{"bytes":6932,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"214e5ca3d99b1c2f99f8cc6752fe34ef163ef7439354e75011c6dd676ea0c21a"},{"bytes":6613,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"4985a90ec35bf4f4a5fee5ddf3edb3cc1724aa015731090540c5ab50b494d181"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1943702000d00fe5778c42265899e10e9bf65141073bef5a6a2a7df4361d064c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"102c3ee9e8d3bbcc597f4be6e6c0cd7bcdfe542cc281804b93f0fee55e93c641"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"98b8cabf96d36b5805f8c0cafa472bcfe6468a7f0813352262cf1fa1ee7d00d3"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102790"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102790
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102790

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
4985a90ec35bf4f4a5fee5ddf3edb3cc1724aa015731090540c5ab50b494d181

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102790, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102790.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102790" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102790" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102790 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102790 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102790 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102790 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102790", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17030, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "a6884e3f6b7ccda44dd74c7a982c1fd0034ee4e7407558d8a84e4a447781652b" }, { "bytes": 6932, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "214e5ca3d99b1c2f99f8cc6752fe34ef163ef7439354e75011c6dd676ea0c21a" }, { "bytes": 6613, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "4985a90ec35bf4f4a5fee5ddf3edb3cc1724aa015731090540c5ab50b494d181" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102790/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102790", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-71ff-91cb-19cce0a04833" } YSH4TJ5mu2ozlVTAOxk2nXXh6I1NcV+p58pFku8iQeLTQNtvj/xpWS0QD0O/RnKQymqx05E98Ggog/KkT4WmAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: YSH4TJ5mu2ozlVTAOxk2nXXh6I1NcV+p58pFku8iQeLTQNtvj/xpWS0QD0O/RnKQymqx05E98Ggog/KkT4WmAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16476,"name":"index.html","sha256":"811a7b604993aa193134a3b43d2c2bfcaf75ca23d9045a3220ca7429957d98b2"},{"bytes":6445,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e0aeaf991148c6e178d8efcbef73596a9b82bc4a29ab064119ae901fb1b03725"},{"bytes":6129,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d956a5df57eb5b816a2fce701409676d29f3066758b71826c309bb3f4e0f8223"},{"bytes":2749,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"0260bfaf65de278bed13f189acecb7471de015e71385fcc554353e2a361e48a3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"caa1c2a0910d56e49688e8a4957515f07dcd73653fc194d5d86af19d479f0999"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4136e55da2d85ac4ccc94a2d055ef8723f1cdb36f1b6f575e8c6b6cc95f9c7af"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102791"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102791
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102791

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
d956a5df57eb5b816a2fce701409676d29f3066758b71826c309bb3f4e0f8223

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102791, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102791.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102791" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102791" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102791 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102791 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102791 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102791 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102791", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16476, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "811a7b604993aa193134a3b43d2c2bfcaf75ca23d9045a3220ca7429957d98b2" }, { "bytes": 6445, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e0aeaf991148c6e178d8efcbef73596a9b82bc4a29ab064119ae901fb1b03725" }, { "bytes": 6129, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "d956a5df57eb5b816a2fce701409676d29f3066758b71826c309bb3f4e0f8223" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102791/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102791", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-72e9-88a1-94c907a387fb" } PWG8jj4EmP5kziKS5k9OnR9S4NTsDGMNAPi0uKRuznezth1lRPJ0MzKltiVouBOxUdZQU4SL8+YMYefIaZ3NDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: PWG8jj4EmP5kziKS5k9OnR9S4NTsDGMNAPi0uKRuznezth1lRPJ0MzKltiVouBOxUdZQU4SL8+YMYefIaZ3NDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17284,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e1a4b1659b46368735f9084ac527bd8c46322d213d636f70e19dd2f3866c2683"},{"bytes":7143,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b97bf0d13e44a6a51dfcb8de89264496f4f4eb3e789ddaf113492ee568b8d06e"},{"bytes":6824,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"949ce02cdc644511a2db6e7336ae9969c59d98de5f72a7d33239ddf517865af4"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f7c43fc0118e9c05e901f959eb3b652c0ecbd1b41f8c8671ffed3426d67e4286"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"37fced18a2147cb313f187242951843df646e6872d064a0cea313577341ecdd2"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"18aaccb41515aa6930c10f6f7c2e009dc64002a04d1d9521a74d473602e49cad"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102792"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102792
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102792

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
949ce02cdc644511a2db6e7336ae9969c59d98de5f72a7d33239ddf517865af4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102792, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102792.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102792" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102792" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102792 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102792 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102792 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102792 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102792", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17284, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e1a4b1659b46368735f9084ac527bd8c46322d213d636f70e19dd2f3866c2683" }, { "bytes": 7143, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b97bf0d13e44a6a51dfcb8de89264496f4f4eb3e789ddaf113492ee568b8d06e" }, { "bytes": 6824, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "949ce02cdc644511a2db6e7336ae9969c59d98de5f72a7d33239ddf517865af4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102792/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102792", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-74b7-a396-4efbb1883dee" } Dv8YX/Bu76UeA97vpMJ0zWldeUYYA2yxPM1WajLigraHQ4GqoGXjIkGyI20fFH3dO3jkY8ll4K/D16yqjmsGBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Dv8YX/Bu76UeA97vpMJ0zWldeUYYA2yxPM1WajLigraHQ4GqoGXjIkGyI20fFH3dO3jkY8ll4K/D16yqjmsGBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17031,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4e562845da16e43f9d7f492199d5cc7ae4c880e67d79c855f77d5214c9db8ed4"},{"bytes":6933,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"c66c583f3b10dd9e7ef62fb8e2dd416abf5ab21b3c49da7841718c55a39fe6f8"},{"bytes":6614,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"76fbc7cd4143570a5d3e40c3b9085b5a35eee1e020607a76eac56e92b117cbb8"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"b922506538c02a598a6f723ad39576d6672ca9b562e9c5b4ed87098acb30dc34"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9a6e4fd78025eecd3465593d251eae87b381262ccc8632bb174ad73f72c4e3dd"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"00cfd0a649bef97c189fdf7860384cb9d357a377b4a46e2f8a58ccb004ddd257"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102793"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102793
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102793

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
76fbc7cd4143570a5d3e40c3b9085b5a35eee1e020607a76eac56e92b117cbb8

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102793, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102793.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102793" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102793" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102793 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102793 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102793 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102793 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102794

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
08d479c41bfbaa469910ce40e22a870509fc09d9660956208320ccd526a271c4

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102794, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102794.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102794" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102794" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102794 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102794 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102794 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102794 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102794", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 865 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16480, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "92e4b80d04f7499341d99b04d5506ecec9466039cb07b958295009ec344c80b5" }, { "bytes": 6449, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4a2811dc4bd52549236c4f5c1d70a27317edc79d5019ca191664c6f85a8cfdf1" }, { "bytes": 6133, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "08d479c41bfbaa469910ce40e22a870509fc09d9660956208320ccd526a271c4" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102794/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102794", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-78c6-9b84-9730ade76a8f" } Rs60qhtloOXcenLyrDmExiQPwnVojPcgF3qG516DyZSmOQXk0+J7Ze5CPPGB04F8LSToS1LQrrGJLCOgl6MADQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Rs60qhtloOXcenLyrDmExiQPwnVojPcgF3qG516DyZSmOQXk0+J7Ze5CPPGB04F8LSToS1LQrrGJLCOgl6MADQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17288,"name":"index.html","sha256":"affed00bb97c5535def1d12fb94f7b437225e535e557ef3364373e3f0f105761"},{"bytes":7147,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"2bf47a0dc4b7b7f097968d9fffb82e0f5bfc54b32a5b385a0b2e6486f8bfd181"},{"bytes":6828,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"6e0003c437a2ba2e96339d90617f11d95ec6a83cf02ac1233daa0ca2557f9673"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"cf172f2da067a7b98141fd43e15a719e48d6016ecef1fb1f2c73a262bdedf947"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"8d0356e837f8100c8151787bee09d329247178fd41a7669b735d926a76669923"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"af58bab56e9483699ee622b9126069881577f0458d1d3a46d0362c5813b9d8ad"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102795"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102795
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102795

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
6e0003c437a2ba2e96339d90617f11d95ec6a83cf02ac1233daa0ca2557f9673

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102795, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102795.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102795" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102795" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102795 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102795 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102795 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102795 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102795", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 971 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17288, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "affed00bb97c5535def1d12fb94f7b437225e535e557ef3364373e3f0f105761" }, { "bytes": 7147, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "2bf47a0dc4b7b7f097968d9fffb82e0f5bfc54b32a5b385a0b2e6486f8bfd181" }, { "bytes": 6828, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "6e0003c437a2ba2e96339d90617f11d95ec6a83cf02ac1233daa0ca2557f9673" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102795/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102795", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-795f-8c63-a27e8fefb6b1" } 557BCg3IBq+2BE32axiVNI0XcC9fwfFwoOSF8gLln0Q3sBwG+b1MK88K6p6YS13rjSImSNDbd4mjpVHo7NFNDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 557BCg3IBq+2BE32axiVNI0XcC9fwfFwoOSF8gLln0Q3sBwG+b1MK88K6p6YS13rjSImSNDbd4mjpVHo7NFNDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17035,"name":"index.html","sha256":"20cf9e061ab11d7d01ee6a6175698fa8964f92399fe334ca64dd0510dd7c2727"},{"bytes":6937,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"dd915f85cbd812c63c59eeceffae7396201675c752576ac5ba607b3f3dd41b2f"},{"bytes":6618,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"556e611bd42060fd77ff4ed9a1c5d8ada377e55f6b79967d24f095129e5207f6"},{"bytes":2758,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"103bbd35b7c8a37b4eb1924b660a1f6864e9c9dc1da38ed48e22b5205f09f0d2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c654aff02eb3f195cf3353eca2726eb72c3c1918c33eb67413412e66277dd7b4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"f04177108ae77977a654ac1d15e5989c9dc9ecac565dc90637ad9c172e672286"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102796"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102796
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102796

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
556e611bd42060fd77ff4ed9a1c5d8ada377e55f6b79967d24f095129e5207f6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102796, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102796.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102796" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102796" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102796 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102796 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102796 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102796 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102796", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 936 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17035, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "20cf9e061ab11d7d01ee6a6175698fa8964f92399fe334ca64dd0510dd7c2727" }, { "bytes": 6937, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "dd915f85cbd812c63c59eeceffae7396201675c752576ac5ba607b3f3dd41b2f" }, { "bytes": 6618, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "556e611bd42060fd77ff4ed9a1c5d8ada377e55f6b79967d24f095129e5207f6" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102796/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102796", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-72d7-a3c6-8ee697f73781" } gKYZcw9rL86mRtKCFZ+Ei/j4ssX8dbx1a1bZ5ZuZ7xJKTPnAqsEf6XxuKxA1DggxTeqUR8jwOwu2B4C8jm/dCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: gKYZcw9rL86mRtKCFZ+Ei/j4ssX8dbx1a1bZ5ZuZ7xJKTPnAqsEf6XxuKxA1DggxTeqUR8jwOwu2B4C8jm/dCg== {"files":[{"bytes":16669,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e161e495119fdfaa9a8d47608a8e21eb18c78a438e1d125542e7c99ae47a1e47"},{"bytes":6606,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b853f8d270225367dd6345af79e32e8d384837042d1f4c00d0b8a966e422cd0a"},{"bytes":6300,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a9f74b94152cae945fb76a7e8030d1b5f6a761541471012482a59d3fe74f6d44"},{"bytes":2728,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"9beaf6092a9e65b95edfdf8660bcea908366cb5ed708c4969f041765d3efd07f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"1b22cee2a082d99012564d738e60f85e895270e2cc70c1daa6e405a256cb41b6"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"8982298abb9f355b29899c5f94a33b8d1f45faa3552103c47a1b4ce69089b50e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102797"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102797
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102797

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
a9f74b94152cae945fb76a7e8030d1b5f6a761541471012482a59d3fe74f6d44

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102797, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102797.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102797" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102797" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102797 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102797 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102797 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102797 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102797", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 905 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16669, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "e161e495119fdfaa9a8d47608a8e21eb18c78a438e1d125542e7c99ae47a1e47" }, { "bytes": 6606, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b853f8d270225367dd6345af79e32e8d384837042d1f4c00d0b8a966e422cd0a" }, { "bytes": 6300, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a9f74b94152cae945fb76a7e8030d1b5f6a761541471012482a59d3fe74f6d44" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102797/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102797", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7999-b2b1-37f505588c7c" } 5kvEb6qJsnIizbZnc8ZIJKajK/YREcqbJsPb3zppWAjboR/Xrz5JmNTdSfLtGkf/h0KC7OGXxh+I+lWb0qTACA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 5kvEb6qJsnIizbZnc8ZIJKajK/YREcqbJsPb3zppWAjboR/Xrz5JmNTdSfLtGkf/h0KC7OGXxh+I+lWb0qTACA== {"files":[{"bytes":17477,"name":"index.html","sha256":"2b1c66fb903d0ce1a1e79f9ad65a124f6912ee45734a65d4a489ff9198b5b121"},{"bytes":7304,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"757ef9c582bf545a72a1d8016654025bfafce3b7f00dccc8f4f7886214b29a9b"},{"bytes":6995,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"316801547675ac77bd703edee98b389701110604b48cdb1d41ef310435748e06"},{"bytes":2738,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"dcb201b1327bd2b2c8beab67c5103df03b2f25a5d4577c3867e8ddc2efbaa295"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"d112d0e26b399f08a883c138a7edc9b6f08dbb511dc0e8ccdaf22c28015a1caf"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"73ab14ad59a6d46fc7d806a01c3f79bbc93e8355627e8e1151a78cde7ebb7cf6"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102798"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102798
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102798

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
316801547675ac77bd703edee98b389701110604b48cdb1d41ef310435748e06

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102798, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102798.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102798" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102798" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102798 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102798 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102798 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102798 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102798", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 1011 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17477, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "2b1c66fb903d0ce1a1e79f9ad65a124f6912ee45734a65d4a489ff9198b5b121" }, { "bytes": 7304, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "757ef9c582bf545a72a1d8016654025bfafce3b7f00dccc8f4f7886214b29a9b" }, { "bytes": 6995, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "316801547675ac77bd703edee98b389701110604b48cdb1d41ef310435748e06" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102798/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102798", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-75fc-850a-074cdd797679" } bW4xUtjsLX1RyQtQfO4SQQBMxMnKzW6coRd8079miwqjbBNld6OgTJ5A8ZIiNv1p4zjDIKKY3eXFp6TCGyRwCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: bW4xUtjsLX1RyQtQfO4SQQBMxMnKzW6coRd8079miwqjbBNld6OgTJ5A8ZIiNv1p4zjDIKKY3eXFp6TCGyRwCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17224,"name":"index.html","sha256":"1390d7781443796078a2751bc4c0ab2c2ce8f592eb538a1d1395e36854a9d26b"},{"bytes":7094,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e71d6be65bfc1e93bc9f5b934f840a2d0782c3918146378dfdeca59e9c4b4d0c"},{"bytes":6785,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"603456e80c0cba48aaee44a68c1cc1459d2b28ed3cb7773359114d4f8ff986c6"},{"bytes":2737,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ff28718774d5df34ec26706fbda663b732a9997d630fa01c0bf3d893d41f21f9"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b8d1cbf09a237edb95ef6e6291e042fafeefa5f127d130721fcf0ad0f531a270"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"d8755228f1a85ff0d7e2128c8143b8b5a25bc60983a4684bcf9e917386944d72"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102799"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102799
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102799

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
603456e80c0cba48aaee44a68c1cc1459d2b28ed3cb7773359114d4f8ff986c6

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102799, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102799.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102799" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102799" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102799 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102799 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102799 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102799 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102800

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
530d16da6e492b557e68bbfc8e5ed2528e4a77b225ad0d346e262f868dac47d2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102800, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102800.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102800" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102800" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102800 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102800 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102800 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102800 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102800", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 890 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16615, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5f39ada8d2515f9e0a8af03192b3e06b1ed3574b6538a6d29387338725403d95" }, { "bytes": 6552, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "894d8ec1bef477fb16f91a9e0a13447d5b60a58a3816bfc30701503899e3d313" }, { "bytes": 6246, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "530d16da6e492b557e68bbfc8e5ed2528e4a77b225ad0d346e262f868dac47d2" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102800/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102800", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-70e5-b0a0-1a76701de178" } MLskjuSzb6rk3r8IOb+8fCT4yhoW1d+aPhDhS0e+FU/ID4o2y5VlY6ONFRots+yzyRCx33lp7z8JmGFsqIu/DQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: MLskjuSzb6rk3r8IOb+8fCT4yhoW1d+aPhDhS0e+FU/ID4o2y5VlY6ONFRots+yzyRCx33lp7z8JmGFsqIu/DQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17423,"name":"index.html","sha256":"47b534d82251cb15958e2995cdfb1537ac777d19bb2eff55c444f252efdd6a4c"},{"bytes":7250,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"deeb6d7c6cdfea0cda1b3980214cefdee6088e4968ed64018de442abb62eb2bd"},{"bytes":6941,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"56d85671b4a7b8ed10068be58537e7ebc86cfda712896b5d211157b5787c0f58"},{"bytes":2737,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"94db16b9453eda740a4fa60c4f5d9b0e4815a38346bfa08664e4796465a9abf0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"83cd43b74e799b3b3dd47a734e1484ddee163a65d87ef20fc1a7cb7e531faab1"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c676c8d99f4fcd6575459a19c6f5fefc7538fda2372e52bcb785a2a44ad37ea7"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102801"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102801
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102801

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
56d85671b4a7b8ed10068be58537e7ebc86cfda712896b5d211157b5787c0f58

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102801, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102801.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102801" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102801" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102801 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102801 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102801 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102801 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102801", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 996 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17423, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "47b534d82251cb15958e2995cdfb1537ac777d19bb2eff55c444f252efdd6a4c" }, { "bytes": 7250, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "deeb6d7c6cdfea0cda1b3980214cefdee6088e4968ed64018de442abb62eb2bd" }, { "bytes": 6941, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "56d85671b4a7b8ed10068be58537e7ebc86cfda712896b5d211157b5787c0f58" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102801/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102801", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7144-9ad5-d371e2cb764c" } SRbTQBtg3MZQNOuDIwzO7ZFtRIKS70p9YQwAqvu3mxf08uYiuHLV+OGaVhJhNGRFb6RxNza+3+PnC+3au3IgCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: SRbTQBtg3MZQNOuDIwzO7ZFtRIKS70p9YQwAqvu3mxf08uYiuHLV+OGaVhJhNGRFb6RxNza+3+PnC+3au3IgCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17170,"name":"index.html","sha256":"f80401b67dd4a14a36b92af4777c5fb73cb20e86efec16b31f67a4400a3729e1"},{"bytes":7040,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b760ff9f71cce1f97c6f19f7c9949bb2ea41015bf290cf8e71c41add4c5a9305"},{"bytes":6731,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"eca0e431d474869c8b17d375eb4649806dfa4866065aa25b6e8f3f469f752686"},{"bytes":2737,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ce210659ad6abf4c9bf10e69b170486b37206ed7cbdd7f8bb135b73286b5c53d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"bb0db49317d98c3e81ea5b2e7b15991815b300d0e30d289787be5c3d236d5b5e"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"efbf93125192baf9143b24a87e685f0c3dd4fbceceb4f15939282c652345e8fb"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102802"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102802
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102802

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
eca0e431d474869c8b17d375eb4649806dfa4866065aa25b6e8f3f469f752686

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102802, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102802.

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Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102802" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102802" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102802 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102802 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102802 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102802 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102803

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
650ad38864e3975d268b24f2a22cd27b0c71959096fa5968189bfe0075e32767

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102803, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102803.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102803" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102803" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102803 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102803 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102803 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102803 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102804

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
dd66897c688b83400e0c9c109c156a0f3c92043a41e1879717a27c6f100763d1

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102804, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102804.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102804" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102804" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102804 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102804 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102804 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102804 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102805

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ac30f1ea0895cf27e9a6ce98d15bcc9e1edb6820a8d7252fcecb2388d4bfceeb

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102805, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102805.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102805" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102805" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102805 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102805 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102805 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102805 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102806

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
a7b391f3f97bbfa8fb279f3c1981c7e2b34880711e45e86b415350f927f78690

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102806, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102806.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102806" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102806" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102806 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102806 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102806 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102806 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102806", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 853 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16369, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "95ae2cbebf936efd7a002993cd9ef48e2d7b7fd1504368fa847e142c8dcc076e" }, { "bytes": 6354, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6675a6e67646673620425a78879ad246e331338d670e6ed1be4565e51f7cac30" }, { "bytes": 6046, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a7b391f3f97bbfa8fb279f3c1981c7e2b34880711e45e86b415350f927f78690" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102806/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102806", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7d58-8a62-4ec05f96095a" } +8isq9g6oXMBlsOv4gm+vMCwoYeoCZB4LgNQhBxehD1SeP+ffjnl8aM95jjjWSsl5VSqnQWeTMXx5cZUSV8/Cg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: +8isq9g6oXMBlsOv4gm+vMCwoYeoCZB4LgNQhBxehD1SeP+ffjnl8aM95jjjWSsl5VSqnQWeTMXx5cZUSV8/Cg== {"files":[{"bytes":17177,"name":"index.html","sha256":"45b73bee6579211c5f2db24d410a0bd07008ef2658fdcdbf2f7d5f44b320d0e2"},{"bytes":7052,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b7a2c124edbdbb79c83d675758f3492c872947b68f07e40fa71ed7649adfb149"},{"bytes":6741,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cabb31934cec8917a862bda77988f3d22e08e97c7da7d5e6e781b46bff28857a"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"319d7529c0a6100a4c82a2941fb457d2c8d48f6ab4af6b6ddd5bda86e79a76ce"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"e41e06b3c25cf455921bbad867d47f3d705da67dd72d9adf3e7e34d6d671e0f7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5c51815ec1cb9719f16516f74a0adacba4930c53a7464120b5df58f6406b1d02"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102807"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102807
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102807

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
cabb31934cec8917a862bda77988f3d22e08e97c7da7d5e6e781b46bff28857a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102807, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102807.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102807" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102807" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102807 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102807 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102807 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102807 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102807", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17177, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "45b73bee6579211c5f2db24d410a0bd07008ef2658fdcdbf2f7d5f44b320d0e2" }, { "bytes": 7052, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b7a2c124edbdbb79c83d675758f3492c872947b68f07e40fa71ed7649adfb149" }, { "bytes": 6741, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cabb31934cec8917a862bda77988f3d22e08e97c7da7d5e6e781b46bff28857a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102807/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102807", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7f26-b6aa-b1f3e562162b" } NPNX9oQg6pM154cG3r9S3XZbImEgg43fBK6vt2JdJcxXqNYf2mPGcasmXsWNNTuaop7QTTGBovi/TkkrEwZ1BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: NPNX9oQg6pM154cG3r9S3XZbImEgg43fBK6vt2JdJcxXqNYf2mPGcasmXsWNNTuaop7QTTGBovi/TkkrEwZ1BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16924,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d1219c9fb295d69f62bf63c868ea09541325fec081d8ddfd2581a8b5197823ef"},{"bytes":6842,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"6a392f158dbe452b88e1cad438b897a5afd5bb5489a8749122a54eaa8822a5e0"},{"bytes":6531,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8aafa673a0d3c049ca9ad68ddfd1e94d2ded05b6a06eebfeb26bca635b42013e"},{"bytes":2750,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"24b8984984ce6b962974f885470d725c511d574266979762764fc59febd1d850"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"ef001bf09356c6ed30f9b0b62ba5060a6f3ca060ef12c44b0c6a70e95a50ce63"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bb3840ddb05ab26ea74a66dbbdb2f705b54ea825899e5908de16ff6ec8f26220"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102808"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102808
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102808

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
8aafa673a0d3c049ca9ad68ddfd1e94d2ded05b6a06eebfeb26bca635b42013e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102808, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102808.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102808" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102808" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "ejector" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "release control" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One ejector.** The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102808 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102808 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by an ejector. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One ejector. The ejector draws the circuit down by passing compressed air through a nozzle; it has no moving part at the tool and consumes air for as long as it runs. The ejector has three stages. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The ejector is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the ejector outlet, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the ejector outlet, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The ejector is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); stages of the ejector: three (sets the flow drawn at low vacuum and the compressed air consumed while a sealed face is held); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2008134339-A4, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102808 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102808 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one ejector, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the ejector. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102808", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 924 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16924, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d1219c9fb295d69f62bf63c868ea09541325fec081d8ddfd2581a8b5197823ef" }, { "bytes": 6842, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "6a392f158dbe452b88e1cad438b897a5afd5bb5489a8749122a54eaa8822a5e0" }, { "bytes": 6531, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8aafa673a0d3c049ca9ad68ddfd1e94d2ded05b6a06eebfeb26bca635b42013e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102808/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "ejector", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "release control" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102808", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, three stage ejector, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7267-bce9-8bdfe47ccd30" } SRfAMc1THUbbyRyq3eWrzGrOk0Vp7kKVnpCmIbTxiS+4gCYPXlZFjUWxOTIIXbQ67Ht+7Vlw8pkyIBvFcJtqAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: SRfAMc1THUbbyRyq3eWrzGrOk0Vp7kKVnpCmIbTxiS+4gCYPXlZFjUWxOTIIXbQ67Ht+7Vlw8pkyIBvFcJtqAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16366,"name":"index.html","sha256":"aac58ac88e9a848438dbae6866e604aa829f4299b22b135528c94c16260f08ad"},{"bytes":6408,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"3275d200c60f00328e42d7c5a3c37635875d63804e1243968a7ffc404eddc757"},{"bytes":6068,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ef54e6d2295b1ba4e385802cae94378d4b6308151d91069ee8f299e9e307a0cc"},{"bytes":2805,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"3be844ab39474a7526d4fba7f576370aec838451fde3c5a2609948c8d7ed564f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"42bcab048a4faf7be88e16ec4e79362d68d462ff3f160da40cb76ae78e24803c"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"36c805a56bf8e3cc153f7c39136697e456b8ecf927ddd4036d73389ceba3d19c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102809"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102809
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102809

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
ef54e6d2295b1ba4e385802cae94378d4b6308151d91069ee8f299e9e307a0cc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102809, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102809.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102809" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102809" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102809 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102809 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102809 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102809 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102809", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16366, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "aac58ac88e9a848438dbae6866e604aa829f4299b22b135528c94c16260f08ad" }, { "bytes": 6408, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "3275d200c60f00328e42d7c5a3c37635875d63804e1243968a7ffc404eddc757" }, { "bytes": 6068, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ef54e6d2295b1ba4e385802cae94378d4b6308151d91069ee8f299e9e307a0cc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102809/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102809", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7dea-a4d4-07e79f69422e" } DDH4o2eILIzEofjodNLqzEpOJDb+PiRTA/LfeHjvLIvlNnfpmqwfjsXprrKJCfl1w2QC0kAOF/OfSgC5IS+9Dw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: DDH4o2eILIzEofjodNLqzEpOJDb+PiRTA/LfeHjvLIvlNnfpmqwfjsXprrKJCfl1w2QC0kAOF/OfSgC5IS+9Dw== {"files":[{"bytes":17168,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cbb1c584a1ff721a149340e7c529af08bcbf05614e9ecfbd87ce9bbfdfb8d14e"},{"bytes":7100,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ea9b22693a30aea24d98cbdbf18315aa00d91a637721a8d63d42d00f680344df"},{"bytes":6757,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9b9c7c89b4b381772dba1cef2f87a338d3d44657abc5103a88caee2f1b3ad4b7"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1d6ac2c3b1c6125d00188546729c226525476bb68f9917ee1bf26c25a69bba43"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2347c44b68129c95a3f40732c03043e5cd65b0184af8bbb94dfd774b3a5e431a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"c5231344a9b509ae65b8135961705cd1f1cc4fc1361dad21ec9cf9b85c6e0318"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102810"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102810
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102810

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
9b9c7c89b4b381772dba1cef2f87a338d3d44657abc5103a88caee2f1b3ad4b7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102810, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102810.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102810" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102810" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102810 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102810 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102810 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102810 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102810", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17168, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cbb1c584a1ff721a149340e7c529af08bcbf05614e9ecfbd87ce9bbfdfb8d14e" }, { "bytes": 7100, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ea9b22693a30aea24d98cbdbf18315aa00d91a637721a8d63d42d00f680344df" }, { "bytes": 6757, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9b9c7c89b4b381772dba1cef2f87a338d3d44657abc5103a88caee2f1b3ad4b7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102810/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102810", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7487-be57-73ec32a2e3f0" } 0FkktIYOfO+xv5nteQWt2vy2+rBYwpCQ9inYiOF4eX15oKVrLWck2L+KwFM4Zdd0L0n5OUtk8V8eQjtiMU7FDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 0FkktIYOfO+xv5nteQWt2vy2+rBYwpCQ9inYiOF4eX15oKVrLWck2L+KwFM4Zdd0L0n5OUtk8V8eQjtiMU7FDA== {"files":[{"bytes":16915,"name":"index.html","sha256":"68028f939391c29e7dd2ca5dd0c177ba2df03c128c1c6d59e321e5a53d857532"},{"bytes":6890,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4c682b39b0a7c3a449832aea6a1c440a0d3f095bb24b74282a008a09af612a0f"},{"bytes":6547,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"a5bb44ccbc6801c24b78420f923e694952c4a18716acda8fc5eaeb53386812ba"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"355a4651d7333db8c318a5414357cfee0eebb0650d1e1610399e50982e813790"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"a53fe7d56099ea0f81e6fcf6e343739fe3e586325fd03713c484defac90268a7"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b97419061ae5fbc872b9692983d00ad336a038b2f55db29a05b9ca2aad2c5463"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102811"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102811
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102811

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
a5bb44ccbc6801c24b78420f923e694952c4a18716acda8fc5eaeb53386812ba

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102811, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102811.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102811" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102811" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102811 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102811 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102811 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102811 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102811", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 919 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16915, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "68028f939391c29e7dd2ca5dd0c177ba2df03c128c1c6d59e321e5a53d857532" }, { "bytes": 6890, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4c682b39b0a7c3a449832aea6a1c440a0d3f095bb24b74282a008a09af612a0f" }, { "bytes": 6547, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "a5bb44ccbc6801c24b78420f923e694952c4a18716acda8fc5eaeb53386812ba" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102811/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102811", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-77cb-a72d-b5fd87cb0d0d" } mZyS7eOCR+kG9jFo5wr9uVopYI6kTrk2oVi5EbtYdg7wxQgIQhqmS3oDurq6MHeB9DAG6FkqxDORzANr84BVAA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: mZyS7eOCR+kG9jFo5wr9uVopYI6kTrk2oVi5EbtYdg7wxQgIQhqmS3oDurq6MHeB9DAG6FkqxDORzANr84BVAA== {"files":[{"bytes":16367,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4f7aefc66d6c51e4dcdfa90892ae6ffbc5a167563cc9ff522bbf642587eb25c7"},{"bytes":6409,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"d0077f3bc7d67c42db70fc490b88ec58c222e92e5fe00d1a38f93639452dcdb6"},{"bytes":6069,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"59821fe2913f6511a5c846ed1cbaa6c6dc62f796beabaacb3f6829d668dba662"},{"bytes":2805,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"310667e32eb0104178f4ad0b5ac77a0f439f3706a51454530079686f79777d1e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3a5be96801c78c2653812288066e4fe0ddd51a8d52b45c8678a8078533e7dab9"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"18ec59d42dc7610a6b19b04c2eebfb8ae899419411996bf260bcd1c4499b3a7f"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102812"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102812
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102812

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
59821fe2913f6511a5c846ed1cbaa6c6dc62f796beabaacb3f6829d668dba662

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102812, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102812.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102812" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102812" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102812 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102812 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102812 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102812 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102812", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16367, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4f7aefc66d6c51e4dcdfa90892ae6ffbc5a167563cc9ff522bbf642587eb25c7" }, { "bytes": 6409, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "d0077f3bc7d67c42db70fc490b88ec58c222e92e5fe00d1a38f93639452dcdb6" }, { "bytes": 6069, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "59821fe2913f6511a5c846ed1cbaa6c6dc62f796beabaacb3f6829d668dba662" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102812/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102812", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-74bd-b364-cd9d3d967ab3" } gOfd3bss0Xa9Pdv/pN6lib/DSrRVV3cXpYYH2eqwYFLU+yVePCausywnf+ZrjTvf/FzoT9VgwICgiFSEqkUYDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: gOfd3bss0Xa9Pdv/pN6lib/DSrRVV3cXpYYH2eqwYFLU+yVePCausywnf+ZrjTvf/FzoT9VgwICgiFSEqkUYDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17169,"name":"index.html","sha256":"59c1cb0f50055ebb6a6f4bac52a64bb3384293a729d4f26d7c152b3aa4daa7a9"},{"bytes":7101,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"77f12d44811ac9c717f8ac7543e2056a5688c0fc26af1c1f54b77fbb90856da1"},{"bytes":6758,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"22d176a9f24b9a4d08298ca3d23075b1d0ba38d7128391e4da4afe1b4bd89b4a"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"860dadb907ea65d6c7730611fe7c9ec70276d858dd5af0a9926150020acb07b0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"caa308c27203050faa08d7d41377a538d808b7f807ee983cde3f739bddae0156"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"9b22bb68e5af87226f50e90a6d998ab3e6f1f3a7f8878acc524eb558d6846b67"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102813"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102813
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102813

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
22d176a9f24b9a4d08298ca3d23075b1d0ba38d7128391e4da4afe1b4bd89b4a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102813, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102813.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102813" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102813" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102813 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102813 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102813 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102813 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102813", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17169, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "59c1cb0f50055ebb6a6f4bac52a64bb3384293a729d4f26d7c152b3aa4daa7a9" }, { "bytes": 7101, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "77f12d44811ac9c717f8ac7543e2056a5688c0fc26af1c1f54b77fbb90856da1" }, { "bytes": 6758, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "22d176a9f24b9a4d08298ca3d23075b1d0ba38d7128391e4da4afe1b4bd89b4a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102813/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102813", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7711-9747-91b08d63920d" } 9wFF/aPK9BS5Q3ed8X3YmETBrjxSVvNmj5EskCL3Bg80w3XvtX0alSEsmVfwavkkNQp8zYV9DpCDyPq3L1k/AQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: 9wFF/aPK9BS5Q3ed8X3YmETBrjxSVvNmj5EskCL3Bg80w3XvtX0alSEsmVfwavkkNQp8zYV9DpCDyPq3L1k/AQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16916,"name":"index.html","sha256":"0bdda583a57f012f00e15b97595334b283bf8406f92d8265cbf3f625b25f5cfe"},{"bytes":6891,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"bb3da984df2c8a5abfbe17ba2a189b1d3b93ac6aed364423d637b6131941ecdf"},{"bytes":6548,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5004cc0aa7f11d097a45ead1f07ebb8a3e5815d9dc98280c4a0c639fb1b9f31d"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ac8d0b10bac45726e099a6f7dbbe20059541aada15b95bfc00135081d5e652f1"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"6b6c37aaa7c301d703f7104056da9ae9316cdfc9132307c5a90dda98f33edfc8"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"0afdd049b34ba0a4ce2fb9732552838cd9950beee1b83ffb662b5c37eeac26df"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102814"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102814
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102814

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
5004cc0aa7f11d097a45ead1f07ebb8a3e5815d9dc98280c4a0c639fb1b9f31d

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102814, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102814.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102814" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102814" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102814 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102814 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102814 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102814 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102815

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
e6aa44aa0950ae2d4507f65aac1d45de621483826c061246542f5f4a10f0a8aa

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102815, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102815.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102815" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102815" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102815 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102815 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102815 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102815 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102815", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16371, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "12186866fe28feb77639fe243e8754ff357a9433b0d7991e18eea57cc528f2f2" }, { "bytes": 6413, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f1406f79804a2a94366527b16b0558a7895ffbc5c133ca07906adb998efce0c5" }, { "bytes": 6073, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "e6aa44aa0950ae2d4507f65aac1d45de621483826c061246542f5f4a10f0a8aa" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102815/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102815", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-737d-8065-27dc05fe0caa" } n8MzlK2ZWzyvaC1lUt48uBQT5GMNXrLwiJZKiKpXPDcVdxMlQXCfRHvFpSzNn3tHaUxePIh1wfEktYWd8FqfDA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: n8MzlK2ZWzyvaC1lUt48uBQT5GMNXrLwiJZKiKpXPDcVdxMlQXCfRHvFpSzNn3tHaUxePIh1wfEktYWd8FqfDA== {"files":[{"bytes":17173,"name":"index.html","sha256":"b0cdafd2b16acc16b3769085b8d1aa5da55e651828dd90d5273a4207ae4b1304"},{"bytes":7105,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"f59b6bbd0603c620d3f4bffd5289adf2a2ef96b2f8ea419f6fe0c0d044031ad7"},{"bytes":6762,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"66dfd8c5f175daf57e3cdf3ef48c047b1ef8b6c2eaba73c1a09884dbf7285913"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"ca84e64a37a184b5690eea25bce818016ddee62f7951839d0680536aa53bc15e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"9d015e649d028e4079ff00989a43ea83a0573ab13dd20149a787c7ca80d2aaff"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"891c992b2b946f00c90a4b80fa715e0a63b40261356e9362c0a0b70b6e0fbe31"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102816"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102816
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102816

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
66dfd8c5f175daf57e3cdf3ef48c047b1ef8b6c2eaba73c1a09884dbf7285913

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102816, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102816.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102816" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102816" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102816 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102816 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102816 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102816 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102816", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17173, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "b0cdafd2b16acc16b3769085b8d1aa5da55e651828dd90d5273a4207ae4b1304" }, { "bytes": 7105, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "f59b6bbd0603c620d3f4bffd5289adf2a2ef96b2f8ea419f6fe0c0d044031ad7" }, { "bytes": 6762, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "66dfd8c5f175daf57e3cdf3ef48c047b1ef8b6c2eaba73c1a09884dbf7285913" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102816/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102816", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7441-985f-b5c378fa00c2" } HqqiLKNCv45C8Cz2tw8dlKruGmaRh4eJ48i9fIkOw5kd8Vp/7/+p4Q936C9gaNBC0NV01XbDUnk/IbA1UpZuBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: HqqiLKNCv45C8Cz2tw8dlKruGmaRh4eJ48i9fIkOw5kd8Vp/7/+p4Q936C9gaNBC0NV01XbDUnk/IbA1UpZuBw== {"files":[{"bytes":16920,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4d9fc813d99f0376d3dcbb588a1bdcc1dee2e96aae242c571609560052de2c41"},{"bytes":6895,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"afb787522d1a25624c979496eb84f171ded3174ca8205ee558a7e846622ff59d"},{"bytes":6552,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"952385cbbce81743e4a0b13ad3a976523ca6e378b5717011bff60c26341ffcac"},{"bytes":2814,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"81a28389b230c66123ed75199a5c02a3ebc4fc139fdb10d4975e776b123c3848"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"457c951af47e84babba9ee6948b2fae3f6af4adfd3e0a21c26563f879efd54dd"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"752970ebb7cef3987efe214f5cd1d89da2d423fa8246e2edc8d117004eec7458"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102817"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102817
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102817

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
952385cbbce81743e4a0b13ad3a976523ca6e378b5717011bff60c26341ffcac

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102817, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102817.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102817" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102817" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102817 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102817 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102817 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102817 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102817", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 919 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16920, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4d9fc813d99f0376d3dcbb588a1bdcc1dee2e96aae242c571609560052de2c41" }, { "bytes": 6895, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "afb787522d1a25624c979496eb84f171ded3174ca8205ee558a7e846622ff59d" }, { "bytes": 6552, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "952385cbbce81743e4a0b13ad3a976523ca6e378b5717011bff60c26341ffcac" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102817/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102817", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7c9e-81b8-b8b8c9678482" } Z9feV5rzBbWPt4p71ZEjMjO/p61A+MXFimUrkscTow+htUSrRKqW9BLnP6g4B1vf/oPsBFBB9nOBtEfEAyUpAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: Z9feV5rzBbWPt4p71ZEjMjO/p61A+MXFimUrkscTow+htUSrRKqW9BLnP6g4B1vf/oPsBFBB9nOBtEfEAyUpAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16560,"name":"index.html","sha256":"230064a20188960a891e073f728e9310688d5d341875fbe6f84e5201e278564d"},{"bytes":6570,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"02ad578897222a895d640319f02bfe813c5c4d3504fa1515d6229c3ba01d57c6"},{"bytes":6240,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"9ef7a9038051cc4497cddd29efbba233bce6d5af0a024324b7c8f72d9b0eb6a3"},{"bytes":2784,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5c276fc177d71cd2c59edcaa328eb4841e738e7c6f5b3f388313f679a1a15fc0"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"232379e682fc355e245755a76b5b6cda06c198770a19d286368e5caa611ee585"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"84d5de22579d1ff832362e6881edb1c2bb2f098b1d3ed0b22128a7e35854e1db"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102818"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102818
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102818

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
9ef7a9038051cc4497cddd29efbba233bce6d5af0a024324b7c8f72d9b0eb6a3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102818, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102818.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102818" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102818" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102818 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102818 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102818 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102818 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102819

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
eea6785431a9834a621ae4501b2e60d9f9ded57b375616a55ec72ee9244d5e80

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0026]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102819, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102819.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102819" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102819" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102819 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102819 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102819 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102819 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102820

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
18a4c8b95743077c6d5192b9edcac091b614a08c371e1a1b6e3b403a56bc8bf7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102820, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102820.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102820" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102820" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102820 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102820 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102820 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102820 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102821

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
2a9e242a3c249e5e13db596ad63c7d48d278d2fa0c615d8b7233b2484b5d7153

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102821, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102821.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102821" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102821" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102821 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102821 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102821 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102821 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102821", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 873 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16506, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "eaa139ac3afebcf6b764a9fc84b9a5020cd2b3765dfb6b634093c0a999742485" }, { "bytes": 6516, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4ace23a07c9ec348484f476c85509e274d6fef991799dc6868ed5c9a26309bba" }, { "bytes": 6186, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "2a9e242a3c249e5e13db596ad63c7d48d278d2fa0c615d8b7233b2484b5d7153" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102821/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102821", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7012-bcee-066ca20e0596" } g0yT3WSs4jldC0+qItyE7ke/iwArAkbOjRkcuPX9ypZyvVozp0oYdKm9p7E/LAlMVsI15KTH/3YKPXgxTlxPDg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: g0yT3WSs4jldC0+qItyE7ke/iwArAkbOjRkcuPX9ypZyvVozp0oYdKm9p7E/LAlMVsI15KTH/3YKPXgxTlxPDg== {"files":[{"bytes":17308,"name":"index.html","sha256":"472d78224f0e206ab0397e4fe5156c804b4618660bf15f9bed8385afe8e4e5ae"},{"bytes":7208,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4fd01b4dadf36ec6352d6c570cff5c7567608633497f94a074dadd34cd8b5641"},{"bytes":6875,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"aa17ee1096ee0058afe5fa9e70dde91c9085802c62a45bfe9b828bad6135feeb"},{"bytes":2793,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"59eab99dccfd17e5525f09164b096daa9ad983c84eead419e8d0da789531a6ff"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c0268c17ae27f8e7cad0798421f9259db689f2ab25fc4bb3fcc9eb4b6a8f6d34"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4413b55e5054075fa5cf3f2b0d0914bf17cb76f1057dfbd58f346d7453bcb250"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102822"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102822
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102822

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
aa17ee1096ee0058afe5fa9e70dde91c9085802c62a45bfe9b828bad6135feeb

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0026]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102822, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102822.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102822" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102822" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102822 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102822 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0026] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102822 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102822 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102822", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 979 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17308, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "472d78224f0e206ab0397e4fe5156c804b4618660bf15f9bed8385afe8e4e5ae" }, { "bytes": 7208, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "4fd01b4dadf36ec6352d6c570cff5c7567608633497f94a074dadd34cd8b5641" }, { "bytes": 6875, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "aa17ee1096ee0058afe5fa9e70dde91c9085802c62a45bfe9b828bad6135feeb" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102822/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102822", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7b06-adab-ee0df9038d8c" } pCjujy1YpQjWtYcCEcC2jId+ieYnrarqNXMRDnz1dIsPn64J8GqP4iQgh9OQ3zPMeKDZBNcWSr8+mu0v44DWBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: pCjujy1YpQjWtYcCEcC2jId+ieYnrarqNXMRDnz1dIsPn64J8GqP4iQgh9OQ3zPMeKDZBNcWSr8+mu0v44DWBg== {"files":[{"bytes":17055,"name":"index.html","sha256":"513583a6edfbd92574ab9d875f32e5668aabad06c6e768048afb5abb3bab1a15"},{"bytes":6998,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"26ed7ad57bbdb4939ddc9ea980ddd86d7ea7ed5b8f7fc2173dd094827f6d3b38"},{"bytes":6665,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f738b655b0fe94d3a8bbe2353ebbfeecb14ace3e533d72a100f9835d976f31bc"},{"bytes":2793,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"74b373c29aa7de40ae362c1befc15377f8d82afea482ebb539eab7a4e6469853"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"2b833607e9a69197bd8f7bd39f84eafcb63323085bd358427c4a9a8efb585088"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"1f5820c65305f77c6481cba95d82b4d78ed25eaf0ed27c0a818ac408fd3a6075"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102823"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102823
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102823

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
f738b655b0fe94d3a8bbe2353ebbfeecb14ace3e533d72a100f9835d976f31bc

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102823, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102823.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102823" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102823" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102823 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102823 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102823 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102823 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102823", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 944 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17055, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "513583a6edfbd92574ab9d875f32e5668aabad06c6e768048afb5abb3bab1a15" }, { "bytes": 6998, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "26ed7ad57bbdb4939ddc9ea980ddd86d7ea7ed5b8f7fc2173dd094827f6d3b38" }, { "bytes": 6665, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f738b655b0fe94d3a8bbe2353ebbfeecb14ace3e533d72a100f9835d976f31bc" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102823/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102823", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7518-91ed-74ded3b98e0d" } sYsbdMzbaLOTwBUk1nTpZD+0c+hAKAg+RQKgAnmp40pM9prJcGJsDO7GUcGCXGLFcShXi8s0EDvu95+P2ajkBQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: sYsbdMzbaLOTwBUk1nTpZD+0c+hAKAg+RQKgAnmp40pM9prJcGJsDO7GUcGCXGLFcShXi8s0EDvu95+P2ajkBQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16260,"name":"index.html","sha256":"53e4760d2b32519822f621c55c7dfca19b6d9174ff46328e7b207da6dc8bedf0"},{"bytes":6318,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5509dddbe57f9b42ddeb295be4cb65ebef8e66de31f9e4c04c3452a740a71e18"},{"bytes":5986,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"eb8fa62f3026f90da0067483591c0f98da9a6fcadc8b21b53aae96c8176e611b"},{"bytes":2797,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"c4cf8aaa2a0a69fb53a1e4ddda883485f44503a4bdfa920f620767212069570d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"bac320aa8ce41101ac5ff4da7ddefffd10418adaaf7c4388ed20ff84f743115a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4443c1802912f7f374f5c9e6ec80c06a784777bb514f6fc51b09c87c2eff7e72"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102824"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102824
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102824

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
eb8fa62f3026f90da0067483591c0f98da9a6fcadc8b21b53aae96c8176e611b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102824, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102824.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102824" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102824" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102824 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102824 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102824 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102824 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102824", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 836 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16260, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "53e4760d2b32519822f621c55c7dfca19b6d9174ff46328e7b207da6dc8bedf0" }, { "bytes": 6318, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5509dddbe57f9b42ddeb295be4cb65ebef8e66de31f9e4c04c3452a740a71e18" }, { "bytes": 5986, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "eb8fa62f3026f90da0067483591c0f98da9a6fcadc8b21b53aae96c8176e611b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102824/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102824", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7886-aa77-a3076497746a" } pkgtOUAPg9YQx+QBuF4IbJ3xPob08UBm6e049C0GjcT1QJXmtGh2uz+6EL141egCyzvxaS/IV1f9XimyevTeCg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: pkgtOUAPg9YQx+QBuF4IbJ3xPob08UBm6e049C0GjcT1QJXmtGh2uz+6EL141egCyzvxaS/IV1f9XimyevTeCg== {"files":[{"bytes":17062,"name":"index.html","sha256":"5a6a8178bcaffc113cdda45468d6e1293003ce2cbd28f10d2c8f855d0bff91f1"},{"bytes":7010,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"62050d3bfa979f70b966f8d3bc760c56dd415d561692d3eec4892b0454ad16f5"},{"bytes":6675,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"279ad1b84956f94bbb3d5fb51f40833786912e69c7945774682d35695d73fa1b"},{"bytes":2806,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"7b8ffa6ff74ad25e9ca60aece0912023deea5615a7513476cab05a927d303588"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"966d937e023b3c4b6a3e844175c7899b99532dd5057f22c621f255ad1b778fd4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"51e395869c81ed8690d8086ad2442bcdb7b6ac5d7adcc01aeadb943320055412"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102825"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102825
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102825

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
279ad1b84956f94bbb3d5fb51f40833786912e69c7945774682d35695d73fa1b

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102825, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102825.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102825" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102825" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102825 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102825 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102825 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102825 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102825", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 942 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17062, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "5a6a8178bcaffc113cdda45468d6e1293003ce2cbd28f10d2c8f855d0bff91f1" }, { "bytes": 7010, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "62050d3bfa979f70b966f8d3bc760c56dd415d561692d3eec4892b0454ad16f5" }, { "bytes": 6675, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "279ad1b84956f94bbb3d5fb51f40833786912e69c7945774682d35695d73fa1b" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102825/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102825", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7387-8603-2400aaeeda47" } v/ywRFJ7I3H9NKHZYq5jxvwZ14sVHSuXx8XI/ErQZozmopsMMRgT4Gu6FpeDSRGSJ018xLNw8GgMhXDJG7lnDw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: v/ywRFJ7I3H9NKHZYq5jxvwZ14sVHSuXx8XI/ErQZozmopsMMRgT4Gu6FpeDSRGSJ018xLNw8GgMhXDJG7lnDw== {"files":[{"bytes":16809,"name":"index.html","sha256":"ac84953d4bad08a76ec9927cb2d6e4f9e84306daed9357c17549a8458b18dc01"},{"bytes":6800,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e8a1b521db2e1341b4c2afe973f545e58d214fbae473d969bc97ce68e514c9f4"},{"bytes":6465,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"238b7a5958dbc86996584bda3fda2cc74e64c10014b3509cb289ec019df606a7"},{"bytes":2806,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"f64c3363632dc952bafd609e413567bbfd04fc33b43025ec56b840db39fcbbb3"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c8ecffc56a891ebb12d8521fee187e09234608d7f3ca9c66ad9a2b8d1b9f0953"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"448d5d2c400e2fb0b3db5506f94ec4e4906b6826a8707e0bda77a6d6c3cac01c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102826"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102826
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102826

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
238b7a5958dbc86996584bda3fda2cc74e64c10014b3509cb289ec019df606a7

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102826, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102826.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102826" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102826" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102826 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102826 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the flat form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: flat (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102826 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102826 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102826", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 907 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16809, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "ac84953d4bad08a76ec9927cb2d6e4f9e84306daed9357c17549a8458b18dc01" }, { "bytes": 6800, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e8a1b521db2e1341b4c2afe973f545e58d214fbae473d969bc97ce68e514c9f4" }, { "bytes": 6465, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "238b7a5958dbc86996584bda3fda2cc74e64c10014b3509cb289ec019df606a7" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102826/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102826", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7eda-81b5-5f48ecf2641f" } /r4KUVLoIDTtD3h1Qn6eDNJ0ZT5na202rENpE99sN7atWP9W8ZqZ2Weg9hLxwIMZhyUNQwvClZ2/NrdNl5cKBg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: /r4KUVLoIDTtD3h1Qn6eDNJ0ZT5na202rENpE99sN7atWP9W8ZqZ2Weg9hLxwIMZhyUNQwvClZ2/NrdNl5cKBg== {"files":[{"bytes":16260,"name":"index.html","sha256":"fea7c35a5da8242b2a12ba1b589cc447aa7460795dff8ea814fb689f02d03716"},{"bytes":6318,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"e1c7cb95397341366f54cfeec7a10bb28abe154acf37b94c239ef8a2bd119a27"},{"bytes":5986,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"8476c32dc90380e3fd21d9dbdd0506e803354f85d08391ecb283deba8560ba54"},{"bytes":2797,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"2cc0956bd4dac3646089be383850918eabe3dfeb925fa7ef3754c0362cdfb12c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"c2fc0f5e0a6b6bc86325db6f6d4d2119b3def82eb4411a6640ee489f2b5a9628"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"b2772ab6cb4ac72b6a863045bae18b109db5819c53333edd91cd12796080e079"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102827"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102827
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102827

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Supply, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
8476c32dc90380e3fd21d9dbdd0506e803354f85d08391ecb283deba8560ba54

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

5. Provenance and status

[0025]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102827, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102827.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102827" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102827" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. ## 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102827 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102827 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face and clearing the face at release. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. 5. Provenance and status [0025] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-10549431-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102827 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102827 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102827", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 25, "words": 836 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16260, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "fea7c35a5da8242b2a12ba1b589cc447aa7460795dff8ea814fb689f02d03716" }, { "bytes": 6318, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "e1c7cb95397341366f54cfeec7a10bb28abe154acf37b94c239ef8a2bd119a27" }, { "bytes": 5986, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "8476c32dc90380e3fd21d9dbdd0506e803354f85d08391ecb283deba8560ba54" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102827/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102827", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7c03-8e60-a99c5b23c13a" } PmopvwXEk8u+9tvcD2nhg8gdyTuMnI0zKoYM6IIaHH5SbVoxvJ0HJWWDVqc5FiKC4Zumy0yMF3LEU7CAgp+PBw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: PmopvwXEk8u+9tvcD2nhg8gdyTuMnI0zKoYM6IIaHH5SbVoxvJ0HJWWDVqc5FiKC4Zumy0yMF3LEU7CAgp+PBw== {"files":[{"bytes":17062,"name":"index.html","sha256":"e65b483897fe8dd8626bfa435498c7304db85a717e055e4e4581ac9cf662e184"},{"bytes":7010,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"4735b6f60fc9fabb33b72bee4518bfb11590970a544f1bdb0218f15918024ee8"},{"bytes":6675,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"d7349e3241ceb8b45ff1531ae46289a8857f1a3e685bbd8c4d758892122f58ce"},{"bytes":2806,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"98f4fcdd67a56f7204161d2cfaaa94f215541f2988c596c067b97b896b6faa4f"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"db9108aab0acdec014bb3d6c7208da80005fd749c7c1be6026cd22fa7b031671"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"5a8af0f9b70844705513c0824676df764a9d9fc37260c8c335b21415443e1fda"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102828"} Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102828
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102828

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
d7349e3241ceb8b45ff1531ae46289a8857f1a3e685bbd8c4d758892122f58ce

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0018]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0019]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0020]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0021]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0022]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0023]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0024]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0025]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0026]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102828, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102828.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102828" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102828" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102828 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102828 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0018] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0019] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0020] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0021] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0022] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0023] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0024] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0025] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0026] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102828 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102828 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102829

Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Supply
Document SHA-256
ab6d573ce7c4394c65cf39b622353289c42d7b19253552366f53041b5fb71ce3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form.

[0004]One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0011]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0012]Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0013]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0014]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0015]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0016]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0017]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0018]

  • When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection.

[0019]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0020]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0021]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0022]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0023]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0024]The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone.

[0025]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

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Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102829, “Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102829.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102829" title: "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102829" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "suction cup" - "plant vacuum connection" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "plant vacuum supply" --- # Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two suction cups.** Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] **One plant vacuum connection.** The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102829 Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102829 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two suction cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a plant vacuum connection. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two suction cups. Each suction cup presents a sealing lip to the workpiece and is evacuated through its own connection. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. The suction cups are of the oval form. [0004] One plant vacuum connection. The plant vacuum connection takes vacuum from the plant line, so the tool carries no generator of its own. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The suction cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The manifold inlet is connected to the plant vacuum connection, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0011] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0012] Each suction cup is connected to its own zone line, one suction cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0013] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the plant vacuum connection, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0014] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0015] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0016] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0017] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0018] - When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. [0019] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0020] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0021] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0022] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); form of the suction cups: oval (sets the shape of the contact area and the behaviour of the lip on a curved workpiece); material of the suction cups: polyurethane (sets the friction at the lip and the tolerance of the lip to oil and heat); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0023] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0024] The tool carries no valve between the plant line and the face, so the plant vacuum is applied to the face whenever the plant line is live; release relies on the release element alone. [0025] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are US-10259123-B2, US-11858125-B2, US-2016214812-A1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102829 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102829 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two suction cups, one plant vacuum connection, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the suction cups reach the workpiece, the suction cups are evacuated by the plant vacuum connection. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102829", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-components-safety-infrastructure/plant-utilities/vacuum-supply" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 907 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16809, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "c67812d0bdba1fdc5d703eb72a2fbde5e0d1d15449a6820be136a84f1684a24f" }, { "bytes": 6800, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "55865ea3401df357373b448efbec264e263d158f00f7988348e7274ed8fc5bcc" }, { "bytes": 6465, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ab6d573ce7c4394c65cf39b622353289c42d7b19253552366f53041b5fb71ce3" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102829/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "suction cup", "plant vacuum connection", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "plant vacuum supply" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102829", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, plant vacuum fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-71a4-aff4-c76491a08130" } G3pBpebcM3PNETNyDhklJYxDtxuUxJEV3Bl9A3TBhiYS6K869o9mTDdBvLUtsgkQ+5mBgMNI96N9hiYYthKYBA== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: G3pBpebcM3PNETNyDhklJYxDtxuUxJEV3Bl9A3TBhiYS6K869o9mTDdBvLUtsgkQ+5mBgMNI96N9hiYYthKYBA== {"files":[{"bytes":16335,"name":"index.html","sha256":"cfabe4f2294dcf0db1f406ba9a1f4704cfc3dc2d91018b88b3629e199fb68d4f"},{"bytes":6333,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"eb502a5d0b5e5d657eba090cf74a0c76b6cb35a5622432db0d8b3510b8d6299e"},{"bytes":6021,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"f62f955c87db747eacb9d8cc437c72e730bd99c8feb0fd1ab28f820d3494f145"},{"bytes":2753,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"1446932105ed1d82cf559b79fd48ccad20ede7c2b7fabfaa3515a8d6c0a8af0b"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"3b95015ea3e9115c8e31105b9c631168d836137e18634390ca589f4bd0d429ae"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4642c8c79fabd9e921ce688f72d4e24b69b68941990941f7c34bdbbf425de66c"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102830"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102830
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102830

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
f62f955c87db747eacb9d8cc437c72e730bd99c8feb0fd1ab28f820d3494f145

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102830, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102830.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102830" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102830" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102830 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102830 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102830 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102830 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102830", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16335, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "cfabe4f2294dcf0db1f406ba9a1f4704cfc3dc2d91018b88b3629e199fb68d4f" }, { "bytes": 6333, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "eb502a5d0b5e5d657eba090cf74a0c76b6cb35a5622432db0d8b3510b8d6299e" }, { "bytes": 6021, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "f62f955c87db747eacb9d8cc437c72e730bd99c8feb0fd1ab28f820d3494f145" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102830/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102830", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7c9a-9623-a16b95f0bf9f" } fzyOqdbU2Xw9AYEz/mnRXLtnp+E9sqpCCOyDPNLNr8/KBwF9yVpvsA/SMsixacJ0mLQhAqfySURE4A+WP0GoCw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: fzyOqdbU2Xw9AYEz/mnRXLtnp+E9sqpCCOyDPNLNr8/KBwF9yVpvsA/SMsixacJ0mLQhAqfySURE4A+WP0GoCw== {"files":[{"bytes":17143,"name":"index.html","sha256":"7e0cfaee6c10a36497fdc22e98319e35c4a1a094db7abba364498242d1652188"},{"bytes":7031,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"516e1c78cad771c3cdddff61eedddf04af38dfa96e18da58fdf55b04dfd58be4"},{"bytes":6716,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"773b8d0541d9f5a78d955f82b9063a9ee620e2f7812ac18590c58b51c4c2dca0"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"5252a6a1ff74ae1eecd1ff4296f6d6c2e50b3d0849d4d5db41da08b7cc9d66e7"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"65f07cd8ab6e9b2e7abbee4626bf007249e61b580117af8e00492482ea3681cf"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bee7442d3974b1207001ebe1c602ce1ebf06b941a1508691b9e61f4142ed38aa"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102831"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102831
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102831

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
773b8d0541d9f5a78d955f82b9063a9ee620e2f7812ac18590c58b51c4c2dca0

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102831, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102831.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102831" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102831" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102831 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102831 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102831 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102831 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102831", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17143, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "7e0cfaee6c10a36497fdc22e98319e35c4a1a094db7abba364498242d1652188" }, { "bytes": 7031, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "516e1c78cad771c3cdddff61eedddf04af38dfa96e18da58fdf55b04dfd58be4" }, { "bytes": 6716, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "773b8d0541d9f5a78d955f82b9063a9ee620e2f7812ac18590c58b51c4c2dca0" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102831/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102831", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7719-8e5e-f89c4dfca256" } tfwEoBMP6bZ9e3TZ++MIC2NY7FTFuWN+rOfOIFoQq3/RN4PgLVD79QlQ/ilu0hZMCSmuTtNo/VrwoL8QgoFuCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: tfwEoBMP6bZ9e3TZ++MIC2NY7FTFuWN+rOfOIFoQq3/RN4PgLVD79QlQ/ilu0hZMCSmuTtNo/VrwoL8QgoFuCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16890,"name":"index.html","sha256":"9e6cf5cd6416a17e7872b04cd646d773dbfa19b9e44ca9874933854394a556c7"},{"bytes":6821,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ea24b3559d48b92af23e81e1524cd803ca77293a0f9db241df6c09b289a1a3ea"},{"bytes":6506,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cede36b937b13b9237e8ccbf34b46b1e8f3fe4a6d4265f81ae1cccb58a6ff1f3"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"69a6450af42379696ddca8680f733cdcdd0b77711e462b7e11c1e41c14262555"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b9cb44f9a3abc457527bab9f16cc1a131e44dae16e5b3251f8cfa2472be8a9c3"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"908a4843b88aecaca9a342550773e52e25121dc7066276a1fa4f888c74015c2d"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102832"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102832
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102832

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
cede36b937b13b9237e8ccbf34b46b1e8f3fe4a6d4265f81ae1cccb58a6ff1f3

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102832, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102832.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102832" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102832" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102832 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102832 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has one fold. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: one (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102832 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102832 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102833

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
0576ad8b77990e31b5afee722fe07baa709488c3dc333c77ba5248c2bd583ff5

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102833, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102833.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102833" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102833" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102833 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102833 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102833 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102833 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102834

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
9b25095785404ae18bc0ab1cf39a0c6ea8e38420164c8f51c770f03cfe11db9e

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102834, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102834.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102834" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102834" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102834 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102834 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102834 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102834 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102834", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17144, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "298fbf57ded4d03628ea64f210a330a0d9ee56535a4a15905be3d441ccad8074" }, { "bytes": 7032, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ec18d1dce2fa24cede8ffca23e9de911c72dce14e6796f3b76eb6dda470c0bb2" }, { "bytes": 6717, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "9b25095785404ae18bc0ab1cf39a0c6ea8e38420164c8f51c770f03cfe11db9e" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102834/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102834", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-76b5-aa44-9f8e3fb5ad5e" } ovC6CbIzH4EOzHLyr86IGPg2GxhwdWWquNq0ZZPkFf9z8TXkYRSd2FgDVl4MLj+2wUOsZrMkxJrgg7sjsggUAw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: ovC6CbIzH4EOzHLyr86IGPg2GxhwdWWquNq0ZZPkFf9z8TXkYRSd2FgDVl4MLj+2wUOsZrMkxJrgg7sjsggUAw== {"files":[{"bytes":16891,"name":"index.html","sha256":"262e7ff140e19215e9e81dc082bfe3fcda0dd8a52184b641594a7096e423e266"},{"bytes":6822,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b87c195687c194f1a11a35cef1fa9f8599d90c2435458eefa02ca9b0d4ba2b3a"},{"bytes":6507,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"ec5f197bce05eeffd43b81c707748c64b1da48be35247ffdb88309ef01b586c2"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"8a2fadb4bb1b6b22e31d75126dbc33664f79d97d7701d38798f535988072c0c6"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"b967472eee3dabc5724535f229acd2828e760fcea31477b542462f1688bf5c72"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"4c05d4429a1904da35c2975cc8ba61ea5b5c4a58b1a61e74da8a3e02938ed846"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102835"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102835
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102835

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
ec5f197bce05eeffd43b81c707748c64b1da48be35247ffdb88309ef01b586c2

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102835, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102835.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102835" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102835" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102835 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102835 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has two folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: two (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102835 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102835 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102835", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 919 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16891, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "262e7ff140e19215e9e81dc082bfe3fcda0dd8a52184b641594a7096e423e266" }, { "bytes": 6822, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b87c195687c194f1a11a35cef1fa9f8599d90c2435458eefa02ca9b0d4ba2b3a" }, { "bytes": 6507, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "ec5f197bce05eeffd43b81c707748c64b1da48be35247ffdb88309ef01b586c2" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102835/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102835", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7037-9b4b-ad33ebe179fa" } C1zIADaw5lAvbd2iyPolsHqhjvn/by+TTzqZqZrIJHr6P3Zg9M8F/b+6qHNHs0wiEX0ivJE+5H9rrDu5yUnZDQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: C1zIADaw5lAvbd2iyPolsHqhjvn/by+TTzqZqZrIJHr6P3Zg9M8F/b+6qHNHs0wiEX0ivJE+5H9rrDu5yUnZDQ== {"files":[{"bytes":16340,"name":"index.html","sha256":"4c09b18b8f55cd7923d660e6c97a232a3cdfa24996eaac0fc8a2ddf01e2bdb49"},{"bytes":6338,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"ffe5e7b789bb103fc4a6dd44f978056d9d893c75064918336cf247f909352e40"},{"bytes":6026,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"97524a67b09c1e6aedd11dc02ef041cb623425083658216bd8b962cb488e8739"},{"bytes":2753,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"6144b8b7fcbde4abe8af52b2d72ff9ff2351c97b9c3b32e66c92800efa96a67e"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"de1ac5d28ef14c5c427b505f945282639d425b175d1565ebb71f97d44c54ab66"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"bc0af3a1e9b5604fda7f484fd35ec6db7a631f4cdbe51b40b0abf0481169d54e"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102836"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102836
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102836

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
97524a67b09c1e6aedd11dc02ef041cb623425083658216bd8b962cb488e8739

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

5. Provenance and status

[0026]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102836, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102836.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102836" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102836" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. ## 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102836 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102836 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and taking up height differences at the face. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. 5. Provenance and status [0026] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102836 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102836 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102836", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 26, "words": 848 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16340, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "4c09b18b8f55cd7923d660e6c97a232a3cdfa24996eaac0fc8a2ddf01e2bdb49" }, { "bytes": 6338, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "ffe5e7b789bb103fc4a6dd44f978056d9d893c75064918336cf247f909352e40" }, { "bytes": 6026, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "97524a67b09c1e6aedd11dc02ef041cb623425083658216bd8b962cb488e8739" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102836/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102836", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-74dc-b5af-6315a06b975c" } ffkhYZPnOGkxTlLosIQXjXwO8nh4F3EIQEKI8UGZRcqZvRSUgPElZcv1MlWJuvj3CsmpTTtU41NzermMljsvCQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: ffkhYZPnOGkxTlLosIQXjXwO8nh4F3EIQEKI8UGZRcqZvRSUgPElZcv1MlWJuvj3CsmpTTtU41NzermMljsvCQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17148,"name":"index.html","sha256":"96a9d3fe7e5e26a78196a46a474956aef2146526749cd4fa4f071baa36936ac6"},{"bytes":7036,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"9f1e52ff42d8ff2ca46a3d3075e87f5a3177f1c5e53d237513cce1bbaf2f9c4f"},{"bytes":6721,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"5c4eaafa4e90e56570ea70c1d28f2a31a0dc28e22edbea1680de6c535815a80a"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"a1e8418347cc36988f3e04822e3143fd628b76dd9f10bf11b1d88f43289f1d39"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"0e8c552ba0fb4c246a1fca9de193f291099e476bc6b6f15cd24c2a4c1075acf4"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"57bcfc9da883be93fca3d81de6e88a020a0cabebeb7c326482f54bbbca848950"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102837"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102837
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102837

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
5c4eaafa4e90e56570ea70c1d28f2a31a0dc28e22edbea1680de6c535815a80a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102837, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102837.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102837" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102837" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102837 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102837 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102837 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102837 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102837", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 954 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17148, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "96a9d3fe7e5e26a78196a46a474956aef2146526749cd4fa4f071baa36936ac6" }, { "bytes": 7036, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "9f1e52ff42d8ff2ca46a3d3075e87f5a3177f1c5e53d237513cce1bbaf2f9c4f" }, { "bytes": 6721, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "5c4eaafa4e90e56570ea70c1d28f2a31a0dc28e22edbea1680de6c535815a80a" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102837/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "bellows cup", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102837", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-707e-ab76-2f51e4e548cd" } GjUpzlsfXbhrqZRoCjJqDSUsKGYJDyhTZl4SJc1bZCvZgt26L9T9Z4vdh/jjk2+1uzq+xH/lrBgkiFQBaLk/Bw== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: GjUpzlsfXbhrqZRoCjJqDSUsKGYJDyhTZl4SJc1bZCvZgt26L9T9Z4vdh/jjk2+1uzq+xH/lrBgkiFQBaLk/Bw== {"files":[{"bytes":16895,"name":"index.html","sha256":"fd0a3b9d6f76540cf5d9203e91b81b9436213ff60086a90052800a011ec1a30f"},{"bytes":6826,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"a3f31e5abe1ac81a1f0771a84d03638aabd42961d94dee41f5fec05cdc97db09"},{"bytes":6511,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"b20aad3b979b15d5a4cf9c60f6c3767ff6405f295d1b60831918a187e7c17af9"},{"bytes":2762,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"964f76f14815b639738acec9f852f9186163ff24af54d763de67ca6ddd92614d"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"29444eba4d996a154e134593c2b518d60674fb8476db8862cb43a20f3651bcb5"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"80d161c8c25e9c68aaf2bc236625f66477692f7c366be228e6ae10d3f203983b"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102838"} Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102838
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102838

Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
b20aad3b979b15d5a4cf9c60f6c3767ff6405f295d1b60831918a187e7c17af9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102838, “Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102838.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102838" title: "Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102838" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "bellows cup" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **Two bellows cups.** Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102838 Two bellows cup vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102838 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: two bellows cups carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, taking up height differences at the face and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] Two bellows cups. Each bellows cup is folded so that it shortens under vacuum and takes up a height difference between the face and the workpiece. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one gripping element per zone branch. Each bellows cup has three folds. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The bellows cups are carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each bellows cup is connected to its own zone line, one bellows cup per zone, and is evacuated through that line. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); folds of the bellows cups: three (sets the travel taken up between the face and the workpiece, and the lateral stiffness of the cup under load); material of the bellows cups: plastic (sets the friction at the lip and the resistance of the folds to fatigue); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4489564-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102838 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102838 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, two bellows cups, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the bellows cups reach the workpiece, the bellows cups are evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102839

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
c8f3352ad47277fb14faba371858af6a09735097c62eaae67b2d2b081235f00c

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102839, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102839.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102839" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102839" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102839 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102839 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102839 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102839 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102839", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation", "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 27, "words": 888 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 16529, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "0f71f3398dd572343d78b28eb780b0a41568e45a04ab1c3e987ff849abf9e629" }, { "bytes": 6495, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "8a51991dbe2c40260012a782f45f2047512245d6e42f04a492c7b0323d4ce773" }, { "bytes": 6193, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "c8f3352ad47277fb14faba371858af6a09735097c62eaae67b2d2b081235f00c" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102839/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "mounting flange", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102839", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-7b2e-948d-e194c4341cb7" } vMsVd9Y+MK1mWajgUAjWkrJeEgDMhKMLyANQBodg7g2E+tlyJrerz9dVSaMOPFTKp6XHMx1vmIhluwFGs7veAQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: vMsVd9Y+MK1mWajgUAjWkrJeEgDMhKMLyANQBodg7g2E+tlyJrerz9dVSaMOPFTKp6XHMx1vmIhluwFGs7veAQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17337,"name":"index.html","sha256":"dfc62e0d377416e9bdaf5adaaf81a942e15cc2ae39477dc8280cc8115f97d3ae"},{"bytes":7193,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"b4723258d0e6292ebbf1343d0df318408f67dac04d06faf0e15b8aa0313ed2e5"},{"bytes":6888,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"cbeb0d6f520e0da479ac8f7305451f705eb1fd9ef05f8d04a644f7988924dc35"},{"bytes":2741,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"4eb377d91df5bc4d546ae6e63e0b23ae2f242ea3d0a4cfebe171f3cd4470450c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"19551266d4ac0b61ee10bd10db89fcdff85e9a6143ee4c753ddc010cec3e9b84"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"be487625cba57e77cf45aadd4468adbebd6d6954828eccd6494277b971849785"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102840"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102840
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102840

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
cbeb0d6f520e0da479ac8f7305451f705eb1fd9ef05f8d04a644f7988924dc35

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102840, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102840.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102840" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102840" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102840 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102840 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102840 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102840 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102840", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 29, "words": 994 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17337, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "dfc62e0d377416e9bdaf5adaaf81a942e15cc2ae39477dc8280cc8115f97d3ae" }, { "bytes": 7193, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "b4723258d0e6292ebbf1343d0df318408f67dac04d06faf0e15b8aa0313ed2e5" }, { "bytes": 6888, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "cbeb0d6f520e0da479ac8f7305451f705eb1fd9ef05f8d04a644f7988924dc35" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102840/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102840", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-73fc-a959-93ce4c8c376e" } gYE0OfGosaqPabVBnHEDH09kY5/8eZl8QTDYRLRRwwFp236zhiSGIoPQmA7O1HBLDLMpPJFNUkmPiHjijI64BQ== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: gYE0OfGosaqPabVBnHEDH09kY5/8eZl8QTDYRLRRwwFp236zhiSGIoPQmA7O1HBLDLMpPJFNUkmPiHjijI64BQ== {"files":[{"bytes":17084,"name":"index.html","sha256":"d0d0ca90a88f9afef2b43c4e72b2df44f08f5e9044cd5a6fc5830d563a62da3e"},{"bytes":6983,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5858db6510525934a365bceb5a575c10994aa4ab2d13c5263a7230e74d66beeb"},{"bytes":6678,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"22486c6d75aeb674b3b3795d62184c50293efa0820e2c8a00c2b1c5a6de6e6a9"},{"bytes":2741,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"acb928689a6b61754c8bde2f86d866a45a9db863772baa46685cda672f26096c"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"cc095d55e72e7ef3f56a4ae03943cd5946e9a52be1a040e35faf9e4577fa511a"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"ee094ef24c9b949727c08109bd2c7035bb580f1d183bb0ef308976f6a27e32ea"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102841"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102841
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102841

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
22486c6d75aeb674b3b3795d62184c50293efa0820e2c8a00c2b1c5a6de6e6a9

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102841, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102841.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102841" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102841" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102841 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102841 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of open cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: open cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The open-cell foam passes air through its whole face, so an uncovered part of the face draws air through the pad itself; the supply is sized for that continuous flow and the pad relies on flow restriction through the foam, not on a seal, to hold vacuum behind a covered area. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102841 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102841 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.", "canonical_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102841", "categories": [ "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds", "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers", "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" ], "extent": { "figures": 0, "paragraphs": 28, "words": 959 }, "figures": [], "files": [ { "bytes": 17084, "media_type": "text/html; charset=utf-8", "name": "index.html", "sha256": "d0d0ca90a88f9afef2b43c4e72b2df44f08f5e9044cd5a6fc5830d563a62da3e" }, { "bytes": 6983, "media_type": "text/markdown; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.md", "sha256": "5858db6510525934a365bceb5a575c10994aa4ab2d13c5263a7230e74d66beeb" }, { "bytes": 6678, "media_type": "text/plain; charset=utf-8", "name": "publication.txt", "sha256": "22486c6d75aeb674b3b3795d62184c50293efa0820e2c8a00c2b1c5a6de6e6a9" } ], "integrity": { "hash_algorithm": "sha256", "keys_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys", "record_url": "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102841/integrity", "signature_algorithm": "Ed25519", "signature_file": "manifest.sig", "verify_url": "https://opentechnical.org/integrity/verify" }, "keywords": [ "zoned vacuum tool", "tool-change interface", "foam pad", "vacuum pump", "manifold", "zone branch", "blow-off valve", "blow off release", "compressed air supply", "electric actuation" ], "language": "en", "license": { "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" }, "publication_id": "OT-2026-000102841", "published_at": "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z", "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited", "record_type": "disclosure", "schema": "opentechnical-publication-manifest/1.0", "supersedes": null, "title": "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer", "uuid": "01a0aea4-858c-70df-89f4-e151f80b684c" } TY3paetugRkzsGdU+bi5yw+l0HK3O+sPd+t447TCftbkiX0LvUWYO37BSm1mtT00y7Idg7tKopOEFgli1AMfAg== algorithm: Ed25519 key_id: OT-SIGN-2026-01 public_key: https://opentechnical.org/integrity/keys signed_file: manifest.json signature_b64: TY3paetugRkzsGdU+bi5yw+l0HK3O+sPd+t447TCftbkiX0LvUWYO37BSm1mtT00y7Idg7tKopOEFgli1AMfAg== {"files":[{"bytes":16475,"name":"index.html","sha256":"63540b96750bab46f17e222e3dc2204a751928f2a048a4d796cc6f395b0f82e0"},{"bytes":6441,"name":"publication.md","sha256":"5f264e4581a18e4a5479cd319755b713d3906afa7569222ba6c821d3f8c3ecbe"},{"bytes":6139,"name":"publication.txt","sha256":"0f0be342ec16b944c19ada22fa81a013c226008bd349368afcae8553b6c1e63a"},{"bytes":2732,"name":"manifest.json","sha256":"64603b5c90a1e7fbbbf1c594dc64a5563f1bdfbeee9ba022793c1ae59f2f98b2"},{"bytes":89,"name":"manifest.sig","sha256":"99904c8ed5267a7b53ca1fd42a4cb4c86cd1c3b95013680753daeb9088cd2336"},{"bytes":227,"name":"manifest.sig.txt","sha256":"fb3a441f6f694bdd64d102ce1fd867d53c41c534f8df4ee4a70676bd2b150520"}],"publication_id":"OT-2026-000102842"} Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down - OpenTechnical OT-2026-000102842
OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102842

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Vacuum Generation, Vacuum Safety Systems
Document SHA-256
0f0be342ec16b944c19ada22fa81a013c226008bd349368afcae8553b6c1e63a

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

5. Provenance and status

[0027]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102842, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102842.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102842" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102842" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" - "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "mounting flange" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One mounting flange.** The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. ## 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102842 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102842 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a mounting flange, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release and holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One mounting flange. The mounting flange carries the whole assembly and presents the bolt pattern that meets the robot. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the mounting flange. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the mounting flange. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the mounting flange is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. 5. Provenance and status [0027] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-10549431-B2, US-11427405-B1, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102842 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102842 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one mounting flange, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102843

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
cdac22805bdca610ff90a41f132e19baa29f32f756146e3d1b7ec9cc6161d767

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0020]The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0021]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0022]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0023]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0024]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0025]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0026]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0027]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0028]The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement.

5. Provenance and status

[0029]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102843, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102843.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102843" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102843" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. ## 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102843 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102843 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a pneumatic lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The locking piston of the tool-change interface is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0020] The blow-off valve and the lock of the tool-change interface are switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0021] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0022] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0023] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0024] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve, the tool-change interface; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0025] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: pneumatic (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0026] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0027] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0028] The lock is engaged by compressed air acting on the locking piston and is held only while that air pressure is applied; what the lock does on loss of air pressure is not fixed by this arrangement. 5. Provenance and status [0029] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102843 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102843 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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OpenTechnical

OT-2026-000102844

Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer

Published
Permanent URL
Classification
Robotics & Automation › End Effectors › Vacuum Grippers
Also classified in
Valves and Manifolds, Tool Changers, Vacuum Generation
Document SHA-256
46212b443dc7b7c2115d7a91426de6512eaa676a8faebecc176ca4da9dffe2ab

Abstract

A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed.

1. Purpose and arrangement

[0001]This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.

2. Components, construction and connections

[0002]One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock.

[0003]One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam.

[0004]One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly.

[0005]One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets.

[0006]Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch.

[0007]One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down.

[0008]The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0009]The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0010]The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface.

[0011]The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold.

[0012]Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only.

[0013]Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone.

[0014]The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face.

[0015]The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange.

[0016]The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell.

[0017]The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line.

[0018]The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell.

[0019]The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller.

3. Operating sequence and conditions

[0020]

  • When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump.

[0021]

  • After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve.

[0022]

  • The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit.

[0023]The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly.

4. Parameters and operating assumptions

[0024]Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down).

[0025]The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again.

[0026]The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece.

[0027]The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool.

5. Provenance and status

[0028]This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination.

Publication information

Plain textMarkdownManifestIntegrity record

Citation

OpenTechnical Publication OT-2026-000102844, “Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer,” published September 17, 2026 at 09:13:32 UTC, https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102844.

To cite specific content, add the paragraph or figure numbers.

Terms

Published through OpenTechnical, which means it has been made publicly available here. It is not a statement that the design has been built, tested or independently validated. Content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See the publication policy.

--- publication_id: "OT-2026-000102844" title: "Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer" published_at: "2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z" canonical_url: "https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102844" categories: - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/valves-and-manifolds" - "robotics-automation/end-effectors/tool-changers" - "industrial-motion-power-transmission/fluid-power/vacuum-generation" keywords: - "zoned vacuum tool" - "tool-change interface" - "foam pad" - "vacuum pump" - "manifold" - "zone branch" - "blow-off valve" - "blow off release" - "compressed air supply" - "electric actuation" --- # Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer ## Abstract A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. ## 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. ## 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] **One tool-change interface.** The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] **One foam pad.** The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] **One vacuum pump.** The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] **One manifold.** The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] **Two zone branches.** Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] **One blow-off valve.** The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. ## 3. Operating sequence and conditions - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. ## 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. ## 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000102844 Foam pad vacuum gripper, two zone face, four outlet manifold, pump fed, pulsed blow-off after set-down, on a tool changer Published: 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102844 Categories: Robotics & Automation > End Effectors > Vacuum Grippers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. The arrangement is a proposed configuration composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks derived from published patents; it has not been constructed. 1. Purpose and arrangement [0001] This disclosure describes a zoned vacuum gripping tool: one foam pad carried on a tool-change interface, fed by a vacuum pump. It is arranged for handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, clearing the face at release, holding a workpiece that a rigid lip cannot seal against and exchanging the tool without rewiring the cell. One concrete embodiment is described; every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations. 2. Components, construction and connections [0002] One tool-change interface. The tool-change interface splits the tool into a robot side and a tool side, so the tool can be exchanged without dismantling it. The tool-change interface has a mechanical lock. [0003] One foam pad. The foam pad presents a compliant face to the workpiece; the holding force is spread over the contact area rather than concentrated at a lip. The pad is of closed cell foam. [0004] One vacuum pump. The pump draws the circuit down mechanically and adds its own mass to the moving assembly. [0005] One manifold. The manifold receives the vacuum at one inlet and distributes it to its outlets. The manifold has four outlets. [0006] Two zone branches. Each zone branch carries the vacuum of one zone of the face and no other. The count of two follows from the arrangement: one branch per zone. The distribution is divided into two zones, each fed by its own branch. [0007] One blow-off valve. The blow-off valve drives compressed air back through the circuit to the face, which clears the face instead of waiting for the circuit to refill. The blow-off is a short pulse. The blow-off pulse is given after set-down. [0008] The foam pad is carried on the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0009] The manifold is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0010] The vacuum pump is fixed to the tool side of the tool-change interface. [0011] The manifold inlet is connected to the pump inlet line, which supplies every outlet of the manifold. [0012] Each of the two zone branches is taken from its own manifold outlet, so that the branch carries the vacuum of its own zone only. [0013] Each zone line opens into its own section of the distribution chamber behind the porous face of the foam pad, so that the pad is evacuated zone by zone. [0014] The blow-off valve is connected to the circuit at the pump inlet line, so that compressed air can be driven back through the circuit to the face. [0015] The robot side of the tool-change interface is bolted to the robot flange. [0016] The pump motor is supplied from the electrical supply of the cell. [0017] The remaining two manifold outlets are plugged and carry no line. [0018] The blow-off valve is fed from the compressed air supply of the cell. [0019] The blow-off valve is switched by the cell controller. 3. Operating sequence and conditions [0020] - When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. [0021] - After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. [0022] - The workpiece is held until the blow-off valve has opened the circuit. [0023] The cell controller commands the blow-off valve; no sensor drives an actuator directly. 4. Parameters and operating assumptions [0024] Parameter values of this embodiment: locking of the tool-change interface: mechanical (sets what has to be present at the interface for the tool to stay attached); material of the foam pad: sponge (sets the compliance of the sealing face); porosity of the foam pad: closed cell (sets whether air passes through the pad body or only through openings cut through it); drive medium of the vacuum pump: electric (sets the supply the pump motor needs from the cell); outlets of the manifold: four (sets how many lines can be fed from one inlet); material of the zone branches: plastic; zones of the zone branches: two (sets how much of the face can be treated separately); duration of the blow-off valve: a short pulse (sets how quickly the face clears and how much air each release costs); timing of the blow-off valve: after set-down (sets whether the pulse assists a drop release or clears the face after set-down). [0025] The blow-off is a short pulse: the valve opens for a fraction of a second, long enough to break the seal and clear the face, and closes again. [0026] The closed-cell foam does not pass air through its body; the face is evacuated through openings cut through the pad into the distribution chamber, and the foam around each opening forms the seal against the workpiece. [0027] The lock is engaged by a manually operated lever on the interface; no supply crosses the interface for the lock, and tool exchange needs an operator at the tool. 5. Provenance and status [0028] This document is an original combination composed from a typed library of mechanism blocks. Each block was derived from a published patent and carries typed connection points, the parameters its source states, and its own construction and operating description. The combination described here is proposed and has not been constructed. The published documents behind the blocks used in this arrangement are EP-4385681-B1, US-11427405-B1, US-11858125-B2, US-8006968-B2, US-8132312-B2, WO-2026020244-A1; their text is not reproduced, and the description above is generated from the structure of the combination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000102844 Published 2026-09-17T09:13:32.827355Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000102844 { "abstract": "A zoned vacuum gripping tool comprising one tool-change interface, one foam pad, one vacuum pump, one manifold, two zone branches and one blow-off valve. When the foam pad reaches the workpiece, the foam pad is evacuated by the vacuum pump. After the workpiece has reached the set-down position, the workpiece is blown off by the blow-off valve. 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